#group activities Malaysia

[holidaymyplanet]

From the vibrant streets of Kuala Lumpur to the tropical beaches of Langkawi, discover 15 exciting activities to try with friends in Malaysia in 2025. Whether you’re into nature, shopping, or adventure, Malaysia has something for everyone.

[redflagshipwriter]

Mamabat 10 part 2/2

masterpost

Sam craned to listen to secondhand sounds of combat. It was all filtered through Val’s headset, so it was vaguely electronic.

“Up!” Said a female voice. Was that Robin? Sam tried to piece it together. The little one had been Robin, she'd thought. Could have been a boy or a girl. Robin looked around Dani's size. 

Ah, hell. She pushed down the recurring dread that thoughts of Dani brought up. 

Dani was probably fine. She just wasn't answering them because she was fabulously busy in Malaysia or Guam or somewhere else gorgeous and fascinating. She wasn't in one of those labs. They hadn't left her in a lab for a month. Sam’s hands were shaking. She squeezed them hard, angry with herself. Good thing she wasn’t in that fight, she’d be useless like this. Useless!

The percussive sounds of fast, expert violence came through Val's sound system. “Damn,” Val said. “Nice swing.” 

The answer was a feminine laugh. Man, who was that? “Not half bad yourself,” said the unknown girl.

Sam untensed, a little. They didn’t sound stressed. It was probably going fine.

There was a groan. “Spoiler, please,” said Red Robin, in a tone he probably thought was too soft to be overheard. Ha. Val was using Vlad's creepertech, and Vlad was one of the best creeps out there. Sam felt weirdly proud of him for a moment. It bordered patriotism. Their freak was the best freak in the business. Eat your heart out, Batjerk.

“Like you're the only one who can pick up girls on the job?” The girl who had to be Spoiler said. 

Sam snorted. Good luck with that one! Val was spectacularly unavailable. She should know, she had tried. 

“Spoiler, Red Robin, and Robin.” Sam listed aloud for Tucker. “What do we know?” 

“All known associates of Batman, Gotham operatives, estimated active dates are at least a couple years each. Robin is clearly an inherited role, but this current one… been in for two years, I think.” Tucker listed off. “I think Spoiler and Red Robin were both former Robins, that's not too subtle.” 

Sam snorted. Her breath fanned out as visible moisture in the cold night air. 

“Likely older teens or early twenties, both of them. Robin is obviously pre puberty. 13 at the oldest.” 

Val made a subvocal grunt that meant she agreed with Tucker's assessment 

That fit. And she really didn't like it. Sam felt her hackles rise up. What was wrong with Gotham? Her group was all child vigilantes, sure, but they'd had no adult help. They'd also all been 14 or older when they got involved. Except for Dani. God, Dani, please don't be in that building. Sam had to relax her grip on the bazooka handle because she squeezed it so hard that the metal creaked. 

Danny was older now. But she didn't like that this was who he'd ended up with. Sam gritted her jaw hard and tried to keep her temper on a low simmer. She didn't have enough facts to think Batman would put Danny in danger. 

“Clear.” 

“Clear.”

The operation inside seemed to continue smoothly. 

“That should be all the staff members on the premises,” Red Robin said. “First lab, coming up.”

“Behind me.” Batman practically growled the order.

A door opened. Sam held her breath. 

“...Are those samples?” 

Val grunted slightly. Why? What was going on? “Cores,” Val said. “Basically, people who have been injured into a coma. Left like that, they're gonna die slowly. Starvation.” 

“What do we do?” Spoiler cut in. “I mean- what can we do?” 

“Is there a way to transport them?” Val dodged the question. “I don't- yeah, that's good.” 

“Can you provide treatment?” Batman pushed. “Where will you take them?”

Val let out a long, annoyed sigh. “I don't trust you enough to go into the details.”

“Why should we trust you, vixen?” Spat a very young voice.

“Vixen?” Spoiler repeated quietly, incredulously. 

“Robin, you can't say things like that!” Red Robin hissed. “Ow- little asshole.” 

“Enough. Thank you.” Batman cut off the chatter. “Let's clear the facility.” 

They found more cores in the labs. Sam felt her stomach condense tighter and tighter into a knot as they came across research areas time and time again. 

They hadn't taken the GIW seriously enough. They'd thought they were incompetent and funny. How long had scientists been experimenting on captured ghosts here? How many of them had totally withered away? 

“Fuck,” Sam said quietly, and wiped her eyes off with her arm. 

They were clearly finished. No Dani, not unless she was one of the cores rolling around on GIW shelves like she wasn't a person.

Batman and crew came out. She could hear Batman clearly making some kind of call to…. To a Green Lantern, she thought, to pick up the GIW agents. 

Oh. That…

“Probably legit,” Tucker said on the line. He let out a big sigh and his chair clicked when he leaned back, no doubt crossing his arms behind his head. “I guess we should talk to ‘em. Should I come out there?” 

“Yeah, do it,” Sam said. “You want a pick up?” She moved the bazooka from a ready position to rest across her back instead.

Tucker hummed. “That would probably be a little cooler than using my bike.” 

Val snorted, but didn't chime in. Sam dipped back to town and let Tucker climb on behind her. He crouched to hold onto the board with both hands, because he was a sweaty nerd with no balance. 

“The bike might have been cooler,” Sam teased, and then she accelerated hard. She met them back in the field where Batman had landed his plane. As soon as she veered into sight, all of the bats looked at her, clearly ready for a fight.

“Calm down,” Val ordered. “You're all so jumpy.” 

Sam snorted and came to a sharp stop. She braced against Tucker's weight (she knew he'd be jostled.) She aimed her hardest glare at Batman. Fuck everyone else. “Danny said you wanna talk.” 

Behind them, unseen, Val double-checked the straps of a new black bag. Sam had no doubt it was full of helpless cores. 

Batman frowned at her slightly. “...Samantha Manson.” He looked behind her. “And Tucker Foley.” He didn't seem surprised, exactly,  but he didn't seem happy to see them either.

“Old man,” she shot back. “You've got half an hour. But first off, what the hell kinda game are you playing with Danny? Because this-” she waved a hand at his child soldier platoon. “is some bullshit, okay. What's going on?” 

Val shot vertically up with a whoosh of air that blew Spoiler’s hair out. All four bats whirled in time to see her blast off into the distance. 

“Focus!” Sam snapped her fingers. “Why are you here?” 

A muscle twitched in Batman's jaw. “My only intention with Danny is to ensure his safety. I have some concerns about the GIW and about his home situation that I want to look into.” 

Sam scoffed. “Bit late.” She wound some hair around her finger. “They're gone. All of them. You saw what's left of the GIW. The Fentons disappeared the day after the GIW did.” 

She heard the first hint of urgency and upset in his voice when he pressed, “Jasmine Fenton?” 

“Gone.” 

[buffetlicious]

Then gusts of wind started blowing and dark cloud quickly gathered. Before long, drops of rain can be felt, as it turned into a drizzle. We escaped across this suspended V-shaped netting then up the flight of stairs to seek shelter in Sentinel Foodhall.

Even though we were holed up in the food court due to the rain, there were snake, squirrels and birds to be seen from within. The Prevost’s Squirrels or Asian tri-coloured squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii) were actively jumping from the tree and running along the rope. Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi) on the other hand were taking cover under the leaves of the tree. Was stranded in the food court for close to an hour before I rendezvous with the other “lost” group of colleagues who were in the other bus. By then the sky had cleared up and we continued with the exploration.

As we have decided to go for lunch, we just follow the pathway toward the restaurant. On the way, we spotted one tired Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) sleeping peacefully from the elevated walkway above. In Singapore we have had a few sightings of wild tapir swimming over from Malaysia and running about. These illegal immigrants toured the country for a few days then swam back across the strait.

Bird's-eye view of the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Males can grow up to a weight of 1,000–1,500 kg (2,200–3,300 lb) and a length of 6 m (20 ft) and is the largest living reptile. We didn’t go over the suspended bridge as it means taking a different route.

[lastivkaa]

@/yo_syp from twitter decided to make a thread with some facts about why people hate Russians and Russia. I copy it here respectively.

"Why do so many people hate Russians?"

The first and second Russian-Chechen Wars

Russian-Georgian War

Transnistria War | The war between Russia and Moldova

January events in Vilnius or the assault on the Vilnius TV tower

The Winter War. War between the Soviet Union (Russia) and Finland

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 tragedy.

Invasion of Czechoslovakia

Russia actively supports Taliban

The Wagner Group, also known as the African Corps in Africa, has been conducting military operations in various countries on the African continent since 2017, and is a de facto unit of the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD)

Russian imperialism harms the whole world

Russia Should Collapse

[mylovesstuffs]

© 𝟤𝟧 𝄒 kprofile — ( ‘'𝓈𝓋𝓉. ) ℰlara

Elara

Stage Name: Elara (세라)  Birth Name: Elara Carson Korean Name: Lee Eunseo (이은서)  Position(s): Lead Dancer, Sub-Vocalist, Face of the Group, Maknae Birthday: April 8, 2001 Zodiac Sign: Aries Chinese Zodiac Sign: Snake Height: 166 cm (5’5″) Weight: 50 kg (110 lbs) Blood Type: O MBTI Type: INTP Nationality: Malay-American Representative Emoji: 🍫/🦊/👶🏻 Sub-Unit: Performance Team  Instagram: @elxra_official Spotify Playlist: sundown signals / xoxo / roses & hearts

ELARA Facts:

– She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and moved to Malaysia at age 10.

– Her mother is Malay and her father is American, of German and Portuguese ancestry.

– She has an older brother.

– She lived in Malaysia until she was 18, then moved to China through MIT’s transfer program with HIT.

– She later relocated to South Korea in early 2020 with the help of her close connection to Seventeen, after they insisted she don't live alone.

– She was scared of living alone in China with no one around during COVID.

– She majored in Computer Science and Engineering and graduated from MIT.

– She can speak 6 languages.

– She has her own room in the dorm but members keep her company until she's asleep.

– She has sleep anxiety and struggles to fall asleep unless someone is awake near her.

– Elara made her debut in the K-pop scene as part of Seventeen after fans caught her multiple times with them, calling her the “14th member.”

– She is friends with Kim Sejeong and Lee Sung-kyung.

– She has mild situational tachycardia, which occasionally causes brief episodes of rapid heartbeat and deep breathing. It’s managed with rest and awareness and doesn’t affect her performance or daily activities.

– She wears prescription glasses or contact lenses, because of her very poor eyesight.

– She doesn’t like seafood.

– She has her driver’s license, including an international driver’s license.

– She believes in paranormal activity but doesn’t scare easily unless something feels truly threatening.

– She gets paranoid sometimes but hides it well and pretends to stay calm.

– She is interested in tattoos.

– She claims to be delusional.

– Seventeen gave her Korean name.

– Her favorite artists include BTS (especially SUGA and Jungkook), DPR Ian, Alec Benjamin, Alan Walker and IU.

– Her favourite actors are Park Hyunsik, Han Hyo-joo, Park Bo-young, Lee Hye-ri, Steven Zhang, and Song Weilong.

– She is extremely fond of BTS and often credits their artistry for shaping her musical identity.

– She enjoys designing aesthetics, and baking chocolate-dipped snacks.

– Favorite colors: purple, and rich burgundy.

– She smells like vanilla.

– Her role models include RM (and the rest of BTS), IU, and her aunt.

– Her ideal type: she's not sure yet.

See more facts about Elara…

[beardedmrbean]

Protests from furious factory workers in China demanding back pay are spreading across the country after President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports began impacting the communist nation’s economy.

Unrest has been reported across the country as workers have taken to the streets protesting unpaid wages and challenging unfair dismissals following the closures of factories squeezed by US tariffs, according to Radio Free Asia.

Chinese industry leaders, meanwhile, are “extremely anxious” about the steep duties, with many telling factories and suppliers to halt or delay supplies, Wang Xin, head of an industry group representing more than 2,000 Chinese merchants told the Financial Times.

At least 16 million jobs across many industries in China are at risk due to President Trump’s imposing of a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, according to analysis from Goldman Sachs.

“It’s not easy at the moment,” a 26-year-old toy factory worker told the FT. His employer, in the Chinese city of Zhejiang, mostly sells to the US, and management recently forced workers to take two weeks off unpaid in the face of the tariffs.

Last month, construction workers threatened to throw themselves off the buildings they were working on unless they received their unpaid wages in the northeastern city of Tongliao, Radio Free Asia reported.

Elsewhere, a sporting goods factory in southern Hunan province also shut without warning last month, offering no compensation or social security benefits, leading hundreds of workers to go on strike, the outlet said.

Protests in China have increased since the COVID pandemic as the country’s economy has struggled to bounce back, Beijing-based activist Ji Feng, who was one of the student leaders during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, told Radio Free Asia.

Chinese authorities have acknowledged that the tariffs are impacting the country’s economy.

In  April, China’s factory activity showed its steepest contraction in 16 months, while new export orders dropped to their lowest levels in three years since the pandemic.Experts have grown fearful about President Trump’s aggressive tactics, however, the contraction in China’s industrial output and the protests show the president may still have leverage — despite Beijing raising its own duties on imports of US products to as high as 125%. 

China’s President Xi Jinping has also traveled to his neighboring countries in Southeast Asia as he looks to forge closer ties with Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia in response.

Simarlarly, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reached out to his counterparts in the UK and the European Union.

President Trump has insisted things were going “fine with China”but it remains unclear whether any meeting between Trump and Xi will take place.

The president said he had no plans to speak to his Chinese counterpart this week during a conversation with reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday.

“But China and our people are talking about different things,” he added.

[fluorescentadolescent1]

❝𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙮𝙖❞

Nanami Kento x f!reader.

:What else can a person do with their life, if they believe that the person they love does not love them back, or do they?

warnings: a little anguish, mahito, reader's traumatic adolescence etc.

2018.October 31

You shouldn't be here, you should be far away in Malaysia drinking wine and relaxing. But being a jujutsu sorcerer, you didn't know peace.

Your ears hurt from the noise around you, your head felt like it was going to explode and the blood in your nose wouldn't stop- everything felt so familiar, the desperation, the fear, the taste of death on your tongue.

Using your expansion domain had really tired you out but at least you were able to help, now you just needed to find your husband.

Your husband, the father of your daughter, your best friend, your partner, your Kento.

Running through the rubble, you heard Itadori Yuuji scream and your heart stopped for a moment.

Everything felt so familiar, suddenly 28 years of your life began to flash before your eyes.

10 years before the Shibuya Incident.

2006. November 5

Spending your time with Shoko Ieiri was more common than unusual, you were almost always a group of four with your two male friends, but you and Shoko simply completed each other.

"Oi Y/N, are you listening to me?"

Sitting on the patio stairs, you watched the two idiots who were your second-year friends and the two young first-years. But your gaze remained on one in specific.

"Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts" you murmured, looking away, Shoko raised one of her eyebrows and pointed her lollipop at you.

"In your thoughts or in the first year? I didn't think you liked people younger than you."

You rolled your eyes, it was useless to deny Shoko anything, you knew each other like the back of your hand.

" He's cute, I'll give you that, it's kinda serious but I think it's because I'm used to Gojo's immaturity." You joked, making Shoko laugh, a throat clearing made you turn around, it was Yaga-sensei.

You both jumped to your feet quickly, you were supposed to be training with the rest.

"Ladies, I'll pretend I didn't see you. Y/n, i will wait for you and Nanami in the classroom in 15 minutes. Don't be late" Yaga said walking towards said place, Shoko and you sighed, you were saved from a scolding.

Shoko nudged you and smiled mischievously, "Looks like he got you a date."

You rolled your eyes and sighed, it was going to be a long day.

Yaga assigned you a mission, quite easy really, you assumed he was testing Nanami's abilities. Usually the first years had fairly quiet missions, so you assumed you were just there in case things got out of your control.

"I'm sorry you were assigned to me. I know that you are more advanced than me, after all, you are a special grade." Nanami murmured, surprising you, the entire trip to the desolate forest he hadn't said much.

You smiled and shook your head, you continued moving forward, being attentive, "Don't worry Nanami, a mission is never completely easy, it's always useful to have extra experience."

Nanami didn't say anything, he just stared at you. You were very kind and precious in his eyes, but he couldn't help but assume that your feelings belonged to someone else.

""So tell me, would you have preferred to come with someone else?" you asked turning around, you felt the cursed energy emanating from many sides but you couldn't know for sure, being close to Nanami really distracted you.

The first year just denied, he was about to respond but out of nowhere a cursed spirit appeared climbing a tree and attacking you.

Honestly, you could use your cursed technique and it would all be over soon, but you decided to let Nanami act.

Nanami quickly pushed you to the ground, preventing the spirit from hurting you, he took out his cursed object and activated his technique, managing to hurt the spirit but not fatally as it managed to dodge the blow a little.

"Good job Nanami! Finish it now" you exclaimed, standing up from the ground smiling.

Nanami couldn't help but feel a little euphoria knowing that he was able to protect you, he followed your orders and this time he didn't miss the precision blow that killed the spirit.

You ran towards him and hugged him tightly, you were excited to see the confidence in his fight and you let yourself be carried away by the emotion. Nanami tensed for a moment making you release him.

"Sorry Nanami, the euphoria of the moment, but you did very well!"

Nanami again just nodded and followed you back to the car. As he watched you walk in front of him and talk about what you wanted to eat for dinner, he touched his cheeks as he felt them hot.

He assumed it was just because of the fight.

Months later, Nanami learned that he hated seeing you cry. He never thought that a mission with Gojo and Geto could go wrong, but that damn mission ruined everything.

Haibara and Nanami watched as the three of you arrived with a serious and cold countenance, but Nanami could only watch you. Haibara stopped to talk to Geto but you kept going, not bothering to talk to them.

You were heading to your room, the whole mission was a disaster. Riko's death, seeing Gojo "dead" on the ground full of insects on him, Geto's fury, a guy didn't hesitate to stab you in the stomach.

If Geto didn't find you on the ground bleeding, it was almost certain that you would die.

You were barely 17 years old, everything felt very unreal, all the scenes were playing in your head, tears filled your eyes.

You couldn't help but relive the smell of Gojo's blood, the sharp pain in your stomach, how the light faded from Geto's eyes after seeing Riko dead.

You crouched down with your head in your hands and began to hyperventilate, you heard footsteps behind you and activated your cursed technique in paranoia, if you had done it last time, maybe it would have been more useful.

Your cursed technique could alter the mobility of any being, with the condition that they became slower and you became faster, the weaker they were the better, the stronger they were it cost you a little more.

Nanami stayed still, he didn't want to upset you any more than you already were. Upon recognizing him you deactivated your technique.

"I'm sorry"

Nanami's words were silent, you wouldn't have known he spoke them if you weren't looking at his face. Your face was full of your tears, the pain evident in your eyes, and your silence scared him.

Usually between the two of you, you were always the one who brought up topics of conversation and it didn't bother you that he didn't talk much so when he didn't hear a response from you, he approached slowly, careful not to scare you.

You closed your eyes as you felt the heat of his body surround you, you rested your head on his chest and cried harder. Nanami just held you tighter to him, it really hurt him to see your broken spirit.

"I was so scared Nanami, seeing the one who is supposed to be the strongest so hurt and miserable, it made me believe that I would have no more chance to live. Then the damn son of a bitch hurt me, from one moment to the next I was lying on the ground."

Nanami nodded and was a little stung by your comment about Gojo, he understood your crying as fear of losing him.

"I'm so sorry y/n, you're too young to have experienced that. But you said it yourself, every mission is an experience, and you will be stronger now."

Nanami's words calmed you a little, he grabbed your face in his hands and wiped the tears from your cheeks, "Better?"

You looked at him for a moment, and the temptation to kiss him was great, but not enough, "A little, thank you, Nanami."

Nanami hugged you again and you didn't need him to tell you anything else, in his hug he communicated many things.

The main one was "you are not alone"

You realized that you also hated seeing Nanami Kento cry.

After Riko's incident, you became much closer, Nanami getting along more and more with you. You didn't know whether to blame it on Haibara's personality rubbing off on him or it was simply because he liked you.

You were in your room reading when Shoko entered your room pale and agitated from running to you, you closed your book and looked at her with concern, you knew that the first years had gone on a mission.

'It's Haibara, he..." Shoko couldn't finish the sentence and bit her lips, you got up and hugged her, feeling her sob, Haibara Yu was a very warm person and his loss was felt between you.

You couldn't help but ask about Nanami, Shoko smiled wiping her eyes, "He's fine, he's in the morgue with Geto, go see him, im sure he needs to talk."

You made sure Shoko was okay, leaving a kiss on her cheek you ran to the morgue, when you arrived you saw Nanami Kento close the door behind him.

Your heavy breathing caught his attention and he turned to look at you, you noticed his red eyes.

"Nanami, I'm so sorry, Shoko already informed me."

You approached and Nanami looked away so you stopped, you noticed his face was serious as always but this time you felt hostility towards you.

"I'm so sorry Nanami, he didn't deserve that, Shoko told me that Gojo finished the mission, it should have been a mission for us, not you."

Your words made Nanami look mocking, he rolled his eyes and looked at you coldly, "You're right. It was supposed to be an easy mission but it wasn't, maybe if your stupid boyfriend acted when he was supposed to do it, he would still be alive"

It was evident that Nanami was saying those words to hurt you, you understood that each person had a grieving process, but you were not going to let him crush your feelings.

"First of all, I don't know what boyfriend you're talking about. Second, missions are supposed to be assigned according to rank, it's not my fault you guys weren't up to the task."

You were being unfair, and you knew it. But your feelings were hurt, you supposed you had to do the same.

Nanami approached you and looked you straight in the eyes, you didn't feel scared because you knew he would never hurt you, "Don't stand here and talk about survive to a mission when you experienced the exact same thing, you survived that mission thanks to Geto according to you. You're no better than us y/n, we're all trying to survive here."

With those words you saw him walk away from you, and this time you didn't follow him.

2007. April 24

You lasted exactly five months without speaking to Nanami, and he didn't do anything to speak to you either. You were both very stubborn, but you were still his weakness.

You were again on the stairs that led to the patio, you bit your lips waiting for news from Geto, according to what someone reported, he had massacred a village and even murdered his own parents.

You couldn't understand that your sweet friend could have done something so cruel and inhumane. Gojo had called and announced that officially, Geto Suguru has deserted.

Your friend Suguru, who told you to confess your feelings to Nanami, who let you comb his hair, who was such a good person.

You didn't understand.

A few steps made you turn in another direction, wiping the tears from your face, you were tired of people seeing you cry. That someone sat next to you and you were silent. You didn't need to look to know who it was.

"I guess you already know. 112 deaths were reported in the village he visited" you bit your lips and nodded, you had nothing to say.

""I'm sorry for what I said to you that day, it was inappropriate and you didn't deserve that."

You honestly didn't have the head to process Nanami's apology, you just nodded again and looked to the side.

"It's okay, we're fine, I'm also sorry for reacting like that, I had to be more understanding."

Nanami didn't say anything else, he just grabbed one of your hands and held it, startling you. You had forgotten that he was already more trusting with you, making you blush.

You looked at him and knew that a question that needed to be spoken rested on his tongue.

Nanami opened his mouth but a voice and footsteps silenced him.

"And what is this supposed to be? Don't tell me Nanamin that you proposed a date to y/n."

Gojo Satoru stood tall in front of them with a mocking smile, next to him was a boy with a serious face.

You didn't understand how he of all people could be so well off.

"Now you also kidnap children?That's low even for you" you said releasing Nanami and standing up to approach the boy.

"Oh yn-chan, don't say those things in front of Megumi-chan, you'll leave him with a bad impression of me."

"Don't worry, I already have it"

You laughed and Gojo gasped indignantly.

The blonde also stood up and had a grim face, he didn't appreciate Gojo's arrival.

He supposed it was for the best that you didn't know about his feelings, after all, you even had your little family without him.

2009. February 18

At twenty years old, life had a bittersweet taste. You were still a sorcerer, you helped Gojo raise the son of the man who gave them immense trauma.

God knows that Fushiguro Megumi had no sin, he was a stubborn and sweet child, he needed help in life. And also Gojo.

But you knew that you weren't Geto's replacement.

You and Shoko were still as close as ever, except now she was working as a doctor and you were still going on missions.

It had been a year since you had seen Nanami, he had left the world of jujutsu and you understood his reasons.

You know well that Haibara's death hit him deep, like everyone else, and you heard from Gojo that he now works in an office, how pathetic.

It was an ordinary and bright day, rarely you didn't have a mission but Gojo did, so he asked you if you could take care of Megumi and his sweet sister Tsumiki.

The children were in their respective classes, so you decided to stop by a bakery to buy sweets. Their school was close to the central area, thanks to the money Gojo spent on them. You had to admit, Gojo really tried for those kids.

You entered and a girl helped you, it was the first time you were there on Gojo's recommendation. The girl was very sweet and friendly, she reminded you of people from the past.

When you were about to pay the bell at the door announced a new buyer, the girl greeted him with familiarity, curiosity got the better of you and you turned around.

You were surprised. Nanami Kento had definitely grown in a year, he was taller and his once thin body was now more muscular, you liked it.

Feeling your gaze, you noticed how his eyes were surprised and you smiled. Some things remain the same.

"Well well, but who do we have here? the second deserter" You joked, elbowing him, up close you could notice how wide he became.

Nanami shook his head and adjusted his tie, feeling nervous out of nowhere, "I've never seen you here. Only Gojo, do you do his shopping now too?"

Ok Nanami didn't want to sound so bitter, the comment slipped out and you could tell his regret so you let it go.

"Actually, I buy for the children, today I take care of them" You said paying, you waited for him to finish his purchase watching the girl's smile towards him and you couldn't help but frown.

You both left the store and stood there, once again your curiosity got the better of you, "So, do you come here often for the sweets or for the girl?"

Nanami was surprised to hear your question, were you jealous of him? It doesn't make sense, after all you were the one who got engaged to someone else.

"If you must know, both."

You nodded, smiling with an undeniable ardor in your heart. You couldn't blame him for moving on with his life, after all, everyone had.

'That's good, I see you moved on from your past life quickly" your comment shouldn't have sounded like that either, it just did, but Nanami didn't let it go.

The blonde man approached you with a frown, this time you couldn't help but feel intimidated by his large figure.

"Which past life? Y/n, i remember all the days, all the missions, all the pain. They took our adolescence from us." You bit the inside of your cheek, and Nanami continued, "You can't blame me for trying to build a new life when you did it first."

Nanami turned to leave but this time you didn't let him, you went around him and stood in front of him. "What the hell are you talking about? Explain yourself"

Nanami snorted and crossed his arms, he looked kind of funny with a baguette in his arms, "You know what I'm talking about."

If there is any god who gives you patience, why were you going to kill this man.

"Stop talking shit and explain yourself, you always do this, say something and walk away. Not this time, tell me what you mean" you said getting closer to him and Nanami didn't back away.

Nanami set his jaw and let out a stressed sigh, "Oh you don't know what I'm talking about, of course. You've cried for Gojo Satoru all your life, you were the one who now has a family with him. You never even considered me and now that I'm moving on and forgetting you, you decide to judge me for it. It's not fair."

You were speechless, you always had the sneaking suspicion that Nanami thought you liked one of your friends, but you never believed that the idiot was capable of thinking that.

"Nanami Kento, you are an idiot."

Nanami was ready to respond, but your lips on his silenced him. Surprised, it took him a second to respond to the kiss, but he quickly followed it, showing how much he wanted you.

""Wait, I can't do this, Gojo is an idiot but he doesn't deserve this."

You couldn't help but laugh, "I never liked Gojo, I always liked you. And I adore the children, but our relationship with Gojo is strictly about them. Our friendship and Shoko's is the last thing we have left, I don't like him. nor me to him"

Those words were a cool summer breeze for him, this time Nanami hugged you, lifting you off the ground, making you laugh.

You separated from him a little and asked about the girl at the bakery.

""I helped her free herself from a curse, her spirit reminds me of him."

You understood who he was talking about and you smiled sadly, hugging him again.

His hug communicated many things. This time he said, "Please be mine."

2017. December 18

Peace reigned in your comfortable home, you were preparing homemade dough to receive your husband with pizza.

Your 3-year-old daughter was sleeping soundly in her room, every so often you checked on her on the monitor that your controlling husband needed. You have to admit that it also helps you do things around the house.

You are still a jujutsu sorcerer, only now you worked more as a teacher since d/n was born.

You usually spent your mornings with the students, d/n in kindergarten or sometimes accompanied you, and your husband worked until it was time to pick her up.

Your husband. It had been 5 years since you got married and it still tickled you to call him that.

In 2013, after being together for 4 years, he surprised you with an romantic dinner and asked you to marry him. The wedding was also very intimate , only the people close to you.

In 2014 you received your little daughter, who was an identical copy of your husband. Everything seemed to have finally fallen into place, you were happy and lived as peacefully as you could.

You smiled, lost in your thoughts, so much so that you didn't feel arms surround your waist, startling you. Behind you, your husband laughed.

"Don't worry, love, I didn't want to scare you." Nanami Kento placed a tickling kiss on your neck, "Is everything okay?"

You sighed contently into his arms, "Yes, I'm sorry, I got lost in my head."

Nanami nodded and went to check on d/n who was starting to wake up. You turned off the pan with your sauce and followed him.

In your daughter's room, there were plenty of toys courtesy of her uncle Gojo and her aunt Shoko, both of them always took care of her on the days when you and Nanami went out to eat.

You opened the door slowly and found your husband with your daughter in his arms, she was always a daddy's girl, and you wouldn't change it for the world.

"How did you behave with mom, honey, okay?" d/n nodded smiling and Nanami left a kiss on her cheek making her explode with laughter, "Of course you behaved well, if you're an angel."

You laughed, denying, making your presence known, d/n saw you and stretched out her arms for you to pick her up, to which you agreed, "An angel who already broke his uncle's third pair of sunglasses"

Kento laughed, "Gojo is literally rich, his only expense is Fushiguro but that kid doesn't bother him"

"Uncle Gojo!! He promised he would bring cookies" D/n said, remembering her uncle's promise.

You and Nanami looked at each other disapprovingly, it was inevitable that Gojo secretly gave the little girl sweets, thousands of times you scolded him for it but he never learns.

"How about after dinner, you finish all your vegetables and I'll see if I can find something sweet for you, how does that sound?" Nanami knew that d/n would never pass up an opportunity like that, he laughed when he saw her celebrating with you.

He approached and hugged them. Something you shared with your daughter was a love for Nanami Kento's hugs.

He placed a kiss on your foreheads and smiled, looking at you warmly, "Thank you."

2018. June 16

Shoko Ieri loved playing with your daughter, she always said that she was very smart for her age, now that she was 4 years old she was more perceptive and you suspected that she could already feel the cursed energy.

You were in Shoko's office until you received a call from Nanami, worrying you since it was work hours.

"Hi baby, everything okay?"

"Gojo called me, offered me a job again."

You talked to him about it many times, but he never wanted to come back. You always knew that the office bored him to death and that his heart was in Jujutsu, so you assumed that Gojo Satoru also perceived the same.

"Well, I don't know what to say, you left me speechless" there was no response from the other side, "Listen Kento, I will support you in whatever you decide. Do what makes you happy, you are an excellent sorcerer and a good person. These children could use a little of your stoic character."

Even on the phone you could feel the smile forming on his lips.

"Thank you my love, we will talk at home. I hope everything turns out well."

2018. October 31

Hearing Itadori's scream was like seeing Gojo lying on the ground again, blood pouring out of his body.

You were quite far away but you could see well.

Nanami Kento, with half of his body burned, without an eye, looked towards where Itadori was, in front of him was Mahito touching him.

The tears were stuck without coming out, you saw Nanami's lips move towards Itadori and your heart crushed.

And what you feared most happened.

You saw it all in the front row, blood splashing, his body destroying itself under Mahito's command.

This time you didn't scream, nor did your tears come out, you were already tired of crying.

Your soul was on fire and there was no one to quench the hatred you felt inside you. Was this what Geto once felt?

You stood still before the scene, you heard Itadori scream again and that was when without realizing it you began to move forward.

Mahito saw you coming after Itadori and smiled macabrely, as if he was proud of what he had done.

"Itadori"

The boy turned around and you could see that the scene had also affected him, you felt his body tremble with anger.

""Together" you announced and the young man nodded with determination, both began to run towards the curse that awaited for you with a smile.

You really didn't know what you were going to tell your daughter, or if Gojo had a plan to stop this madness, or if you were even going to come out alive.

You just knew that you weren't going to let your husband die in vain.

And after finishing Mahito, you were going to travel with d/n to Malaysia.

n/a: I hope you like it, I'm going to make a version for Geto and Toji for sure.

[mariacallous]

From the order in which members of The Beatles should be listed to the origins of the Pavlova dessert, “edit wars” have dominated Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, since its inception. Though many of these online discussions pertain to cultural icons and phenomena, some have taken a more sinister turn—especially when it comes to controversial or politically sensitive topics such elections, protests, or wars. This has become particularly apparent in the case of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, shaped by multiple competing and ever-evolving narratives.

Started in May 2001, the Russian-language Wikipedia is among the world’s top six Wikipedia sites and, until recently, has remained a popular source of information in and about the country. However, over the last two decades, it has become embroiled in controversy, largely due to the Kremlin’s state-sponsored disinformation plaguing the platform.

Reliant on government sources and edited by Russian editors, Russian-language Wikipedia pages have often featured pro-Kremlin narratives, especially in relation to Russia’s war against Ukraine. For example, while articles in English have clearly indicated the illegal and disputed nature of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its occupation of Donetsk, the Russian-language pages have previously downplayed the role of the Russian military and portrayed Donetsk as a people’s separatist republic (though it has since been changed and is now consistent with the English version).

Another example is the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. While the English-language version acknowledges that the flight was shot down by the Russian military, which is the international consensus, Russian Wikipedia has called it a “catastrophe” without any attribution of guilt. There are also many inconsistencies having to do with famous historical figures appropriated by Russia, such as those of King Volodymyr the Great or Nestor the Chronicler, both of whom lived in Kyiv.

Over the last two years, Russian courts have fined the Wikimedia Foundation, which owns Wikipedia, several times over content related to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, according to a 2022 report, multiple groups of “sock-puppet” editor accounts, which have coordinated their activity to rewrite pages relating to Russian-Ukrainian relations while using false identifiers. These groups have actively undermined Western and Ukrainian information sources and instead endorsed Russian narratives and state-sponsored media.

Though Russia briefly banned Wikipedia in August 2015, it has now taken its digital offensive campaign to the next level.

Earlier this year, Vladimir Medeyko, the former director of Wikimedia Russia, launched an alternative platform called Ruwiki. The new platform started out as a copy-pasted version of the original Russian-language Wikipedia, exploiting a technicality of Wikipedia’s open-source agreement. Today, the new platform contains up to 2 million articles in Russian, as well as 12 other regional languages spoken in Russia, and is not affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation.

Unlike the well-established Wikipedia model, in which any user with internet access can create, edit, or update articles, which then undergo rigorous community moderation, Ruwiki works in a different way. While any user can contribute content, it is subject to review by a narrow circle of undisclosed, likely government-sanctioned “experts” to avoid “mistakes” and adjudicate “complex issues.” But it is no secret which issues are considered “complex” by the Kremlin, whose disinformation machine has been working relentlessly to justify its invasion of Ukraine and vehemently deny the war crimes committed there.

Ruwiki is an isolated digital ecosystem that has created an alternate reality. In this version, Holodomor, the man-made famine under Stalin’s rule that killed up to 8 million Ukrainians by some estimates, never happened. Ukraine’s regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and, of course, Crimea are missing from the country’s internationally recognised administrative map. The 2022 Bucha massacre, in which more than 400 Ukrainians were tortured and killed by the Russian military, is explained as an unverifiable “provocation.” And of course, the platform promotes Russia’s official (wrong) narrative that NATO “provoked” the Russian invasion and that NATO soldiers have participated in the war on behalf of Ukraine.

Ruwiki is the perfect example of the “splinternet”—the fragmentation of the global internet into smaller, divergent, and disconnected spaces. Sometimes, splinters form organically on platforms due to cultural and linguistic preferences of their users. But more often, it is a result of targeted government policies that restrict access to certain websites and services in an attempt to curtail free speech. These measures are often undertaken by authoritarian regimes under the guise of digital sovereignty, ensuring the state’s autonomy and control over its communication and digital infrastructures.

In 2011, Iran’s National Information Network (NIN) project, which envisioned the creation of an absolutely independent online ecosystem back in 2011, is a famous case of digital authoritarianism. Another example is Turkey’s new amendments to the Press Law, which came into effect in 2022. The law increased government control over social media and news platforms and has been dubbed as a “draconian” censorship law by media rights activists and opposition leaders.

Similarly, Russia’s Sovereign Internet Law, adopted in 2019, grants the Kremlin the power to isolate the Russian internet from other countries. The law requires Russian internet service providers to hand over many of their powers to the state, including the ability to directly censor unwanted content and prevent users from accessing alternative ways of seeing banned websites.

While these measures to nationalize the internet might seem benign from the perspective of maintaining technological autonomy, such concentration of power in the hands of the state also comes with an unprecedented ability to surveil its domestic population. Since 2019, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has direct access, complete with encryption codes, to access any messages transmitted via Russian social media platforms or stored on servers located within the country.

These splinternets undermine the idea of a unified and global internet. They create isolated pockets of content that is easy to censor and can only be accessed by users from within the state, thus cutting them off from internationally produced content. As numerous studies show, such fragmentation is a pathway to a rapid deterioration of democratic discourse on platforms that institute it.

Take, for example, Truth Social, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s social media platform, which routinely echoes radical right-wing narratives on immigration, gun ownership, and the 2020 election. Another example is Ukraine’s 2017 decision to ban Russian social media platforms, VK and Odnoklassniki, in the interest of national security, after the platforms had become a toxic cesspool of hate speech, racism, and xenophobia, with well documented calls to rape and murder Ukrainians.

Similarly, in 2022, Russian TikTok blocked all non-Russian content in Russia. Once splintered from the rest of the platform and left unchecked, it became a hotbed of Russian war propaganda.

However, Russian propaganda on TikTok is not limited to its borders alone. Recent research indicates that accounts affiliated with Russian state media, especially Russia Today and Sputnik, have enjoyed a wide international reach, with their content being shared in multiple languages. Once those accounts were flagged by the platform as Russian state-affiliated in 2022, they became inactive and switched to newly created, unlabelled accounts to avoid detection. Another action, which flew under the radar, was Russia’s use of political influencers to sway public opinion in the United States, ahead of its upcoming presidential election.

In light of these disturbing developments, we can reasonably expect to see Ruwiki move along the same historical pathway. Though other countries like China, Turkey, India, and Pakistan have either banned or threatened to ban Wikipedia, Ruwiki’s full control over facts will allow the Kremlin to retell history on its own terms—including denying its war crimes in Ukraine.

This—combined with the targeted destruction of Ukrainian books, the rewriting of Russian school curriculum, and the murder of Ukrainian public intellectuals in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories—will help Russia justify its expansionist goals and cement its colonial dominance over the region.

This digitally mediated historical revisionism is particularly dangerous in light of the increasing use of the internet as the ultimate source of information, especially among Russia’s youth. Splintered from the rest of the world, they will be coming of age in an alternative Kremlin-manufactured version of reality where “nothing is true, but everything is possible.”

[bonesvoid]

pre-thunderbolts robert "bob" reynolds headcanons that aren't flanderizing as "owo soft boy" (cw for drugs, crime, self-harm, abuse, overdose, death, addiction, meth is bad)

prior to running away from home, bob (while high) once snuck into disney world after closure with a few friends to deface the walt disney statue... they were promptly caught and he had to serve a month in county jail

bob has a fondness for puzzles because it was one of the few activities he got to do with his mother growing up where no yelling or fighting happened

he lost many friends to overdose, meth or otherwise; it wasn't enough to make him quit, but he has a habit of keeping narcan on his person because of it

bob used to play guitar in a little garage band called the neonlights, they only had one gig before the band broke up; he continued to play the guitar afterwards and it was one of the few gigs that gave him money after running away from home... the sentry project's super serum erased the callouses from his years of playing

his favorite superhero is the hulk :]

he likes to put sliced strawberries on his pancakes and chocolate syrup so it looks like a face because his mother would do so for him growing up

he despises the nickname 'bobby' because of his dad, but he likes when people call him 'bo' on occasion

he has pain flare ups because of the car accident during middle school and it's partly why he turned to meth after he ran out of his prescription morphine

during his travels after dropping out of high school, he joined a hippie caravan for a few months and learned how to survive off the land but he eventually left the group to score more drugs

about a year before his backpacking journey in malaysia, bob had a girlfriend named lucy; she helped him get sober and employed at alfredo's bail bonds, but ultimately broke up with him after he assaulted a civilian while on meth at work

prior to the serum healing him, bob suffered from malnutrition and skin sores because of his meth usage; during his withdrawals, he had a tendency to scratch at his arms and thighs until they bled

bob has a smiley face tattoo on his left buttcheek... don't ask how that happened, he's still embarrassed

while in malaysia and prior to joining the sentry project, bob found a stray dog that he named lucky and the pair would travel through the country together for a couple of weeks; before he left for the sentry project, he made sure to find someone to take lucky in and struck gold with a family in need of a farm dog

bob's favorite candy is skittles

his favorite song is sally, when the wine runs out

after leaving his abusive households, bob stole a bottle of black nail polish from his mom and would paint his nails as a means to stop nail biting so much

his favorite animal is the shark, he relates to them

[fanaticsnail]

Trip '25

Hey moots, friends and all alike! I have been saying for a little while now that @since-im-already-here and I were planning on a semi-joint bday getaway to meet all of you guys who we have regular interaction with. Considering you're all mostly in the states, or that region of the world and timezone, we were planning on a trip to America.

However, in saying that, I feel like I speak for us all when I say:

Why don't we all meet somewhere else in the world?

Somewhere like Thailand, Malaysia, or even my beloved Japan (gosh, I need to brush up my language). I know @feral-artistry would be absolutely in for a getaway 👀. @sordidmusings and @writingmysanity need a holiday. @gingernut1314, @cinnbar-bun, @i-am-vita and @indydonuts should come too, and anyone else who's interested 👀. Nana-snail has already offered to watch over young-sir and dottir-bean for the trip, so wheels are in motion.

Like, Artistry and I are actively doing some costing to see how much it would be to go and stay in Japan, pool resources, divide cooking and group expenses. Me and Smol-Snail are likely going to do this anyway for her 21st and my 31st (🫣🫣🫣) next year, but we thought to extend an invitation regardless.

This is simply because I love you mutuals, and it really feels like a genuine connection. Hard to send virtual hugs from Australia, and I would love the opportunity to cook for you all. And dance. And swim! And just do life, you know?

Anyway, back to the writing for me 🥹. We should set up a discord or something 💀

[cloudyovergatorsky]

Every year on International Bat Appreciation Day (April 17), we get a chance to celebrate all that bats do for the world and its ecosystems.

Bats are important 

From snapping up bugs in World Heritage-listed libraries to underpinning the tequila industry and regenerating forests, bats provide critical ecosystem services that help keep the planet balanced and biodiverse. 

With over 1,480 species, bats exist on every continent except Antarctica. Bats are an ecologically and taxonomically diverse group accounting for roughly a fifth of mammalian diversity worldwide.  

Bats contribute immensely to the health and wellness of planet Earth: they eat insect pests that destroy crops, saving farmers money and lowering the need for pesticides. They disperse seeds, helping to regenerate forests, and other habitats, and they pollinate flowers (including agave which provides mezcal and tequila), which contributes to keeping our food supply healthy and plentiful.  

A UNESCO-IUCN report found that 70% of bat species can be found in World Heritage sites, including Gunung Mulu National Park (Malaysia), home to one of the largest colonies of wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bats (Mops plicatus) in the world (at over 3 million), and containing the cave with the greatest diversity of bats, as well as Chiribiquete National Park - “The Maloca of the Jaguar” (Colombia), home to 58 bat species. 

Bats are also important for many cultures and communities around the world. For example, they support culturally important landscapes including vineyards and agricultural sites. 

Bats are under pressure 

Today, bats (among the most endangered of the world's creatures) are under unprecedented threat from widespread habitat destruction, hunting for food and medicine, accelerated climate change, invasive species, and other stressors. In the United States and Canada, White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats in North America in the past decade, is decimating bat populations. Meanwhile, in the East Rennell World Heritage site (Solomon Islands), iconic bat species appear to have become locally extinct following a mysterious mass mortality event.  

The IUCN Red List shows that of the 1,336 species currently assessed: 

25 Bat species are Critically Endangered (face imminent risk of extinction) 

87 Bat species are Endangered  

110 Bat species are Vulnerable  

No data is available for 236 bat species (which shows that bats merit much more conservation attention) 

Without concerted and collaborative international action, bat population numbers will continue to fall, driving many species to extinction. 

IUCN’s work on bats 

The IUCN SSC Bat Specialist Group (BSG) is a collaborative multidisciplinary network of bat biologists and conservationists providing support and promoting bat conservation activities throughout the world. The BSG works to ensure the maintenance or recovery of threatened bat populations and ensures that other bat species remain at a favorable conservation status. Current efforts focus on, among other things, understanding the relationships between bats and people, ensuring best practice when working with bats, and ending the ornamental trade in bats.  

"Bats are a testament to the incredible diversity of our natural heritage, with each species playing a unique role in maintaining the balance of our ecosystems. Yet, they face myriad of threats and populations are declining around the world. This Bat Appreciation Day, let's celebrate their variety and commit to protecting these fascinating creatures for the future.” - Tigga Kingston, Professor of Biology, Texas Tech University & IUCN SSC Bat Specialist Group, Co-chair. 

IUCN and its members are supporting work that protects bats and their habitats, as well as bat research in countless ways. Examples include: 

Supporting the Endangered Madeira bat through BESTLIFE2030 

Developing bat conservation strategies, surveys, and guidelines to minimize impacts (eg. from guano harvesting)  

Protecting the last known cave roosts around the world for the most vulnerable bat species 

IUCN also strives to highlight new ways of thinking, which are important for managing bat species that have learned to co-exist with and adapt to human environments. For example, bats frequently inhabit archaeological structures including tombs, temples, buildings, and ruins. While bats contribute positively to ecosystems, their habitation in ancient structures requires balanced conservation approaches to protect both the structural integrity of these cultural landmarks and the ecological roles the bats play. Ultimately, bats should be recognized as integral components of the archaeological sites’ ecosystems rather than pests to be removed. 

What can you do to support bat conservation? 

On International Bat Appreciation Day, we must also inspire action in everyday citizens of our planet. In their own backyard, citizens can protect bats by building a bat garden, installing species-appropriate bat boxes, and humanely removing bats from their home when necessary. Help the Bat Specialist Group stamp out the ornamental trade in bats and never buy mounted bats or bat parts. Consider that bats do at night everything that birds do during the day, and because we don’t often see them at work, we can forget how integral they are to the world and the environment.  

IUCN is currently looking for partners to step up its support for bats, including to help managers of heritage places learning from bat-friendly management practices already tested elsewhere, or how to include archeological sites in bat conservation plans. Some European countries have adopted guidelines to schedule restoration works in buildings of cultural heritage outside bat breeding seasons. Please contact us if you would like to explore partnerships.  

Resources  

2023 State of the Bats report (North America) (Bat Conservation International) 

These Portuguese Libraries Are Infested With Bats—and They Like It That Way (Smithsonian Magazine) 

Bats in Churches project (developing cleaning guidelines for UK heritage professionals to de-escalate conflict between bat and heritage protection).

[total-convergence]

This is a sandwalker, common in the “african” deserts of AfroEuroAustralAsia. These animals belong to a diverse group often called “the Headless”, or “Bluebloods” because most of them look like they lack necks, which isn’t quite true. Their ancestors, the giant malaysian cockroach, ironicaly has a very flexible “neck” for an insect. Some call them “Bluebloods” because they have blue, copper based blood, and also a lot more efficient vascular system than their sixty million years old ancestor. The sandwalkers are rather primitive compared to the other headless, but evolved extremely rapidly like the rest of them.

The malaysian roaches were one of the first animals to re-colonize the islands in oceania devastated by human activity (it was also very common for them to raft since the ocean levels were quickly rising) and so they appeared in an environment with many unoccupied niches and no predators with the exception of birds, that later established populations on said islands too. A lot of the already big roaches grew even bigger because the bigger you are, the more you can eat and the harder it is for the birds to swallow you. Larger individuals would also have slightly different calls due to their body shape, and so they would more likely socialize and mate with similarly sized roaches, resulting in a very slow sympatric speciation contributing to the headless’ / bluebloods’ evolution. The manmade nanite activity has driven many species to extinction, but in case of these giant roaches, they speeded up their enlargement process, because the odds we on their side and the nanites caused several random mutations that contributed to the developement of active respiration and later complex vascular system. As the sea levels were decreasing, the islands of what was previously Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua new Guinea and the neighbouring countries, increased in numbers, size and diversity, and so did the headless. They later dispersed into what used to be Australia, where they also thrived. When Australia started colliding with Asia (ca. 50my after human extinction), the headless experienced a huge decline because of the competition from mainland animals, but a few of them have managed to spread far into the west into Africa, which by now was separated from Asia and Europe by tall mountains instead of the sea. And among these bluebloods are the sandwalkers.

Oh and about the organ on the male’s back? These are modified wings. Giant malaysian cockroach females lack wings completely, and so do the sandwalker females. Males use these “wings” to serenade for the females with chirps and buzzes. The hind wing became a stump, while the fore wing went harder and immobile, completely encircled the hind wing and fused with the carapace. Males create these sounds by stridulation, vibrating the hind wing while it is in contact with the grooved carapace. The immobile fore wing acts as a sound amplifier. Different headless species have different shapes of these structures, creating vastly different mating calls. The larger ones make sounds similar to a pitched-down chainsaw and can travel for houndreds of meters.

And here’s a bit more cartoonish one. Her name is Head and she belongs to a young Yuo Yowa (a species not introduced yet) merchant who travels around the desert and sells low quality salt for high prices.

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

Could we possibly plez get faunus facts for Polar Bear Eren, Dolphin Dawne, Coyote Cadmine, and Salamander Zhe please?

???: Do you have the targets in sight?

Eren: Yes Father.

???: Then Lease your arrow.

~~~~~

A Younger General Ironwood: What do you mean a whole squad went down! And to Arrows!?!?

Lackey: Sir Yes Sir! That is what the investigation reported!

Polar Bears are some of the few Animals that actively hunt Humans. It is required that you change your routine every single day when in their territory.

~~~~~

Cadmine: *Freezes the ground with her semblance, slips and falls*

Dawne: *Sliding slowly around*

Zhe: *Clinging to a tree so his feet don't freeze*

Eren: *Walking normally, but quote irritated*

Polar Bear paws are extremely wide, and their pads are covered in papillae to grip smooth ice better.

~~~~~

Cadmine: Eren take a Chill Pill! Like, literally take a chill pill

Eren: Ahm' F-fine ...

Zhe: You're sweating like a pig! stop using your semblance so much!

Eren: I-I can hannnndlle myself-f.

Polar bears suffer from overheating more than the cold. Because of this, they may only move quickly in short bursts.

~~~~~

Dawne: *Horking down food*

Zhe: I'm shocked you can eat so Much! It's like you've got two stomachs!

Dawne: *With his mouth full*... Yeah?

Dolphins have two stomachs, one for digestion, one for storage.

~~~~

Pyrrha: Thank you for all your help Dawne!

Dawne: *Has done literally nothing* ... You're Welcome.

The Greeks invariably saw Dolphins as Helpers of human kind.

~~~~~

Velvet: Do you ever get the feeling you're being watched?

Cadmine: *hiding in a bush, licking her lips*

Coyotes eat many 'pest' species, including rabbits that are the largest competitors for commercial cattle's natural grass foodstuffs.

~~~~~

Ruby: HEY! WHO STOLE MY STRAWBERRIES!

Cadmine: I'm super Sorry! I meant to go out and buy more- I totally did, even! But Strawberries are just too good to resist, Gurl!

Coyotes are omnivorous.

~~~~~

Cadmine: *Poking Zhe in the chest* Hey you've got something on your shirt.

Zhe: *Looks down*

Cadmine: *Flicks him*

One mythological/Religious view of coyotes was that of a trickster being.

~And For Zhe, I've decided to go with monitor Lizards~

Cadmine: How much money do you have?

Zhe: *pulling out lien cards* Uh ... One, Two, Three, Four, five, six .... Uh ... Uhhh

Rock monitor lizards are able to distinguish snails and rock in numbers up to six! This is very impressive for a Lizard.

~~~~~

Zhe: *Making out with someone. It is getting STEAMY*

In parts of Malaysia and India Monitor lizard Tongues (And livers) are considered Aphrodisiacs when eaten.

~~~~~

Zhe: ALRIGHT TEAM! LET'S MOVE OUT!

Komodo dragons hunt in groups. This is highly unique and exceptional for Reptiles.

[recentadultburnout]

Info for writer in Thai series fandom: Cultural differences in each area

Depending on what we want to talk about, we can divine it in a variety of ways. Now that we're talking about culture, I'll use the one divided into four sections, as shown in this map. 

These four are Northern, Northeastern (Isan), Central, and Southern.

The majority of the series are set in Bangkok, which is in Central Thailand, so that is what you usually see. 

Language

Our official language is Central Thai, but we have quite a lot of others. Northern Thai (Khammueang) from the north, Isan from the northeast, and Southern Thai from the south are the most popular in each area If we don't count the official one.

Kham Muang has a similar grammar, only a little different from the Central Thai language, but uses different vocabulary. Originally used in conjunction with the Tham Lanna script, which is the alphabet of the Lanna Kingdom that uses the Mon alphabet as a model, Kham Muang can be divided into Western Lanna accents. (in Chiang Mai, Lamphun, and Mae Hong Son) and an Eastern Lanna accent (in Chiang Rai, Phayao, Lampang, Uttaradit, Phrae, and Nan), which are partially different.

The Isan language, or Isan Lao language, is a local development of the Lao language in Thailand. Local speakers still think of it as Laotian. The Thai government recognizes this language as one of a Thai language.

Southern Thai has a high concentration of language speakers in the fourteen provinces of southern Thailand. Some are scattered in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Tanintharyi Region in Myanmar and around Kedah State, Perlis State, Penang State, and Perak State in northern Malaysia. There are about five million native speakers, and about 1.5 million use it as a second language. These include Chinese, Peranakan, Malay, Uraklavoi, and Mani ethnic groups.

They each have their own subset of accents and dialects.

We also have "copper language(ภาษาทองแดง)," which the Dictionary of Southern Dialects B.E. 2525(1982) mentions as a way to speak where the speaker is "speaking a central Thai language mixed with a southern language or speaking distorted," which includes anyone who uses the Thai language in a way that deviates from the standard set, not limited to being a person in any region or province.

I've heard a lot of stories about people from an area that doesn't use Central Thai that have misunderstand some sentences as being in the actual Central Thai language. But it's actually not, and it just contains Central Thai words, but not in the same way that people in Central Thailand would understand them as Central Thai. So when they moved to Central Thailand for any reason, they'd use them and expect Central Thai people to understand them a certain way, and they had to find out in an inconvenient way. 

EX:pai song ไปส่ง

Central = to take someone to their destination but not stay with them after doing so.

Northern = to take someone to their destination, stay with them throughout whatever activity they intend to do there, then go back together.

As I said at the beginning, Central Thai is our official language, so that is the language that is taught in school. Other languages are usually taught by unofficial means, so it is not uncommon for the new generation to not be able to speak them fluently even when they come from a household that does. But sometimes everyone in the area speaks the other language, so even the teacher in school who is supposed to teach kids central Thai is not that fluent in it. It can be that case too.

As a person who only knows Central Thai, I can recognize some popular words in the others and understand some words that sound just a bit different, but if someone truly speaks in those languages, I will likely be unable to follow the conversation.

In the clip below, at 17.30, they use a word play with Isan and Central. Kha (ค่า) means worth, while Kha (ข่า) means galangal. In a Central Thai accent, these two words will have different tones, but in an Isan accent, Kha (ข่า) will sound just like Kha (ค่า) in Central Thai.

Food

Most northern dishes have a mild flavor. Fermented soybeans are commonly used in cooking. There are many types of chili paste. The carbohydrate sources are mainly glutinous rice.

Isan food has a distinctive taste that is salty from fermented fish sauce, spicy from fresh and dried chili, and sour from local vegetables such as tamarind. Isan people use pickled fish as a seasoning for almost all kinds of food, such as bamboo shoot soup, om, mok, and various chili pastes, as well as papaya salad, for example. The menu focuses mainly on seasonal vegetables. The carbohydrate sources are mainly glutinous rice.

The central region has long been a trading center and has been in contact with foreign countries for a long time, causing food to be influenced by many nations. And, as the King's residence during various reigns, the recipes have been developed to be meticulous. The taste of food will not focus on any particular flavor. It must be salty, spicy, sour, and sweet together to be considered good,  variety of flavorings are used to achieve that. Coconut milk is used in many foods. The carbohydrate sources are mainly rice.

The southern region is the region with the most coastal areas. There is seafood as the main food. It is cooked with herbs to mask the fishy smell, especially turmeric. The taste is quite strong, and many dishes have vegetables to eat along with it to reduce the spiciness. The carbohydrate sources are mainly rice.

Geography

for geography, we usually divide it into six parts.

North

Most of the terrain consists of mountain ranges interspersed with plains and valleys.

The most important mountain ranges are Luang Prabang, Dan Lao, Thanon Thong Chai, Phi Pan Nam, Khun Tan, and Phetchabun Mountain Range.

Cities located in the basin area, such as Chiang Mai, are often facing serious air pollution problems.

The highest peak in the north and in the country is Doi Inthanon.

It is the headwaters of Thailand's four major rivers, namely the Ping, Wang, Yom, and Nan.

Central

It is a river plain. It is split into upper and lower central sections.

The upper central region has a high- and low-Undulating Plain landscape.

The Ping River and Nan River flow together at Pak Nam Pho, which is the source of the Chao Phraya River.

The lower central region is a wide plain formed by river sediments, suitable for cultivation.

Northeast

The terrain is mostly plateaus and mountain ranges.

There are Dong Phaya Yen Mountain Range, Phetchabun Mountain Range, Phanom Dong Rak Mountain Range, and San Kamphaeng Mountain Range.

It has the Chi and Mun rivers, which are important rivers that flow into the Mekong River.

Eastern region

The terrain consists of river plains and coastal plains.

There are Khao Banthat and Chanthaburi mountains in the middle of the region.

There are lined islands such as Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Koh Sichang, Koh Lan.

Prachinburi Province and Sa Kaeo are not connected to the sea. The region's other provinces all have seaports. 

Western Region

The terrain is mountainous, with alternating plains and valleys similar to those in the north.

Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan are connected to the sea.

Thanon Thongchai and Tanaosri are significant mountain ranges.

It is the origin of the Kwai Noi River (Sai Yok) and Khwae Yai River (Si Sawat), which converge to form the Mae Klong River in Kanchanaburi before flowing into the sea.

South

The terrain is mountainous along the peninsula.

The important mountain ranges are the Phuket Mountain Range, the Nakhon Si Thammarat Mountain Range, and the Sankalakhiri Mountain Range.

It is a natural border between Thailand and Malaysia.

Most of the rivers are short. The longest line is the Tapi River.

There is an open lake (lagoon), Songkhla Lake. It is one of the largest in Southeast Asia.

A few random examples for Tradition, Superstition, and Art.

Northern

If you remember the Yi Peng Festival in Chapter 6, it is a Northern tradition.

Tan Tung(ตานตุง)

Tan is to offer/dedicate

Tung is a kind of flag

Tan Tung is a form of merit making. A Buddhist ceremony. The flag that will be hung is the most noticeable difference from other region ceremonies. 

Spirit

In the north, there are many spirits worshiped in a culture that people in other regions just not do.

Phi Arak(อารักษ์-guard) has a duty to protect the country and the community.

Phi Khun Nam(ขุนน้ำ-stream from a top of mountain) is responsible for providing water to the fields.

Phi Fai(ฝาย-weir,dam) is responsible for protecting the city of Weir.

Phi Sop(สบ-meet) Nam(น้ำ-water) or Phi Pak Nam(ปากน้ำ-estuary, mouth of a river) are responsible for protecting the area where two rivers meet.

The word "phi(ผี-ghost)" has a negative connotation in central, but in the north, it refers to all spirits, including the sacred spirit or god. 

Life Prolonging Ceremony

It means to make one's life auspicious, to live comfortably and free from all diseases, and to prosper forever.

If you want to search for their traditional dance, ฟ้อน (Fon) is the word.

Northeastern (Isan)

Phaya Tan(พญาแถน)

Phaya Tan is a word for gods in the Isan region. The highest Tan is called Tan Luang and is believed to be Indra in other regions.

Naga

Naga is a prominent figure in Isan. I have been repeatedly told that many Isan people believe in Naga existence.

The Boon Bang Fai, or Rocket Festival, is a large festival held to honor Phaya Tan, with an origin story involving Naga.

People from Isan considered the time this festival occurred as a time they should return home and meet with their family and friends in their hometown.

There are glowing balls that occasionally rise from the Mekong River that people call Naga fireballs. They are believed to be fireballs that Naga spits out from under the river.

หมอลำ-Mor lam is a type of music from Isan that is a big genre of music in Thailand.

If you want to search for their traditional dance, เซิ้ง (Serng) is the word.

Southern

Nang Talung-หนังตะลุง is a type of shadow play, one of the local performing arts of the South.

Nora โนรา

Nora dance, in my opinion, is both an art and a superstition. I'm not sure where it came from, but I've heard about how some Nora practitioners treat it like mediumship, saying that if they are chosen by the spirit, there is no way to say no (to the way of living as a Nora performer). 

In Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Satun, as well as parts of Songkhla and Chumphon, the majority of the population is Muslim. Because Thai Muslims and Thai Buddhists have some cultural differences, there are some noticeable differences in the area where Thai Muslims are more prevalent when compared to the rest of the country. However, even when they are a minority in other areas, they are still dispersed throughout the country, with the largest number of residents in Bangkok, so I would say that the culture in those areas will likely still be familiar enough to most people.

In the south, saltwater fisheries are much higher than in other regions due to the geographical location that is adjacent to the sea on both sides. This has resulted in differences in eating culture and other aspects of daily life in the South.

Most of the things you see in the series and from me are based in central Thailand, so I will skip it.

Example :

The protagonist of Siew Sum Noi is from Isan, as is Vee from Love Mechanics.

Country Boy takes place in the north.

Sky in Your Heart and A Tale of a Thousand Stars begin their story in Bangkok and then move the location to the north.

I Told Sunset About You is set in the South.

Index

[southeastasianists]

Asia’s youngest nation emerges as a voice of conscience on Myanmar

Two decades ago, freedom fighters on a mountainous island in southern Indonesia won a long, bloody struggle against a corrupt military regime, establishing East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, the first independent state of the 21st century. Memories of airstrikes and indiscriminate killings are still fresh here. And they’ve led the country’s leaders to take an unusual interest in another fight for freedom in Southeast Asia.

In 2021, a group of generals overturned an elected government in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, starting a civil war that some conflict monitoring groups consider the most extreme in the world today. Many countries have looked away — much as they did for 24 years, East Timor’s leaders say, as Indonesian soldiers fought Timorese independence fighters.

“For so long, nobody paid attention to us,” Xanana Gusmao, the prime minister of East Timor, said during an interview in the capital, Dili.Gusmao led the insurgency against the Indonesian military, later serving two terms as East Timor’s president and now, his second as prime minister. At 77, with a head of white hair and a stiff back from years of imprisonment, he still remembers every person he saw killed or tortured in the jungles of Timor, he said.

“I do not accept the suffering of the Burmese people,” Gusmao said. “I cannot.”

Many in East Timor, even opposition politicians and civil society leaders critical of Gusmao on other issues,said in interviews that they agree. The country of 1.3 million, with an economy one-seventh the size of Vermont, has gone further than almost any other in supporting the Myanmar resistance, receiving its leaders as state representatives and openly advocating on their behalf at international forums.In the coming months, East Timor will let Myanmar pro-democracy groups open offices in the country to help coordinate resistance activities and take in a number of political refugees, officials say.

Increasingly, human rights activists say they see Dili as a voice of conscience, challenging more powerful countries that have been too distracted or too divided to press for change in Myanmar. “What the Timorese are doing is vital,” said Debbie Stothard, a Malaysian rights advocate.

Regional inaction

The U.N. Security Council has repeatedly called on Myanmar’s military government to comply with a peace plan adopted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Western officials, including from the United States and the European Union, have also cited that plan for resolving the conflict.

But ASEAN, which operates on a principle of “noninterference” and includes Myanmar as a member, has largely failed to convince the junta to cooperate.

In 2021, ASEAN adopted the “Five-Point Consensus” on Myanmar, which calls for a cessation of violence and a dialogue among all parties. The junta signed the plan but has ignored it with little consequence. The military has ramped up airstrikes to a rate of nearly once a day, according to conflict monitoring groups, and faces mounting allegations from human rights groups of carrying out mass killings, beheadings and other atrocities. Myanmar has declined invitations from ASEAN to meet with resistance leaders.

“The five-point consensus has failed,” said Saifuddin Abdullah, who served until last year as foreign minister for Malaysia, an ASEAN member. The plan, which has no enforcement measures, is being disregarded not only by the Myanmar government but by other ASEAN members, Abdullah said.

In April, Thailand’s foreign minister traveled to Myanmar and met with junta leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing without notifying other ASEAN members. Thailand, which borders Myanmar, has also hosted secret meetings with junta officials and mooted the idea of ASEAN “fully re-engaging” military leaders.

By normalizing relations with the Myanmar opposition, East Timor is trying to pull the region in the opposite direction — but at some risk to itself. The country is in the final stages of negotiating admission into the bloc and was allowed last year to attend meetings as an “observer.” Its outspoken stance on Myanmar could jeopardize its application or otherwise alienate some of its neighbors, analysts say.

East Timor can’t afford to be excluded from ASEAN, Gusmao admitted. With more than 40 percent of its population living in poverty, the country is in dire need of foreign investment. It has 15 years to find an alternative to its dwindling petroleum revenue, according to the International Monetary Fund, and has struggled since independence to feed its people,a problem set only to worsen with climate change.

At the same time, political scientists say, the country’s history has made it particularly sensitive to authoritarianism. East Timor has become probably the most robust democracy in Southeast Asia, according to experts.It’s the only country in the region ranked “free” by the think tank Freedom House and was recently listed 10th in the world for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.

Smoking as he paced a meeting room in Dili’s government palace, Gusmao said that when he watches extensive coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on television, he often thinks about suffering elsewhere, in Yemen, Somalia, Myanmar. Powerful countries aren’t obliged to care about crises that don’t affect them, Gusmao said.

Among small, fragile nations, he added, “all we have is our solidarity.”

A diplomat expelled

When Gusmao was inaugurated in Dili two months ago, a visitor from Myanmar was seated in the front row alongside cabinet ministers and diplomats from various countries. It was Zin Mar Aung, foreign minister for Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG), formed in opposition to the junta after the coup.

That event marked the first time any country had formally received an NUG official and sparked indignation from Myanmar’s military government, which demanded that Dili cut contact with what it called “terrorist groups.” The following month, when East Timor hosted a second NUG official in Dili, the junta expelled Avelino Pereira, East Timor’s top diplomat in Myanmar.

While some countries have downgraded diplomatic relations with Myanmar, the junta had not thrown out any foreign representatives until Pereira and hasn’t since.When other governments meet with opposition officials, they’ve done so privately or informally. Dili’s actions were “public and senior level barbs” at the junta, said a Western embassy official in Yangon, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because that person had not been given authority to speak on the issue.

“It showed great courage,” said Aung Myo Min, the NUG’s minister for human rights, the second opposition official to visit Dili. “It empowers us to know we’re not alone.”

Some Timorese officials worry Pereira’s expulsion could affect the country’s ASEAN bid. But President Jose Ramos-Horta, who was behind both invitations to the Myanmar opposition figures, said he was unperturbed. “It was an honor,” he said, eyes crinkling behind dark Ray-Ban sunglasses during a recent interview as he was traveling between official engagements in Dili.

Ramos-Horta, who shares the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize with Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo for his opposition of Indonesian oppression, led the “diplomatic front” for East Timor’s sovereignty. Over years, Ramos-Horta formed alliances with activists from other countries, including Myanmar.

In recognizing Myanmar’s opposition government, Ramos-Horta, 73, said he was paying back the support that Myanmar pro-democracy groups gave East Timor. But he was also, he said,acting in line with historical precedent: During World War II, the Allied powers recognized Free France, a government in exile, over the Vichy government that collaborated with Nazi Germany.

“Are we supposed to accept the norm that elections can be disregarded?” asked Ramos-Horta. “The answer, at least for us, is no.”

‘Who is listening?’

When Gusmao attended the semiannual ASEAN summit in August, he was feeling contrite, he said.

He’d been chided by his staff a few weeks earlier for saying East Timor would reconsider its ASEAN application if the bloc couldn’t end the violence in Myanmar. Those were “uncontrolled” remarks, he reflected later, and at the summit in Jakarta, he had intended to stick to his prepared speeches.

But faced with leaders from the United States, China and Russia, Gusmao decided again to go off-script. News reports had said Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s deposed civilian leader, was ill, Gusmao told the room. The junta should provide medical care, he appealed. No one responded.

“We will speak out, always. But we are a small country,” Gusmao said as he recounted the incident. “Who is listening?”

Diplomats and aid workersin Dili say Gusmao and Ramos-Horta might have a bigger impact than they know. The two leaders have allies in places from Europe to Africa, and they command respect as that rare breed of statesmen who fought for freedom and won, said Olufunmilayo Abosede Balogun-Alexander, the U.N. resident coordinator for East Timor. On the world stage, she added, “they have an outsize voice.”

Earlier this year, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Ramos-Horta said he watched as heads of state and chief executives rose one after another to lambaste Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rally Western governments to supply Kyiv with weapons. He was stunned, he remembered, that virtually no one mentioned Myanmar.

“Next year, I will,” said Ramos-Horta, days before departing for the U.N. General Assembly session last month in New York, where he again met with the NUG. “I will say something,” he continued. “So at least people there will hear the word, ‘Myanmar.’”

[beardedmrbean]

More than 250 people from 20 nationalities who had been working in telecom fraud centres in Myanmar's Karen State have been released by an ethnic armed group and brought to Thailand.

The workers, more than half of whom were from African or Asian nations, were received by the Thai army, and are being assessed to find out if they were victims of human trafficking.

Last week Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met Chinese leader Xi Jinping and promised to shut down the scam centres which have proliferated along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Her government has stopped access to power and fuel from the Thai side of the border, and toughened up banking and visa rules to try to prevent scam operators from using Thailand as a transit country for moving workers and cash.

Some opposition MPs in Thailand have been pushing for this kind of action for the past two years.

Foreign workers are typically lured to these scam centres by offers of good salaries, or in some cases tricked into thinking they will be doing different work in Thailand, not Myanmar.

The scammers look for workers with skills in the languages of those who are targeted for cyber-fraud, usually English and Chinese.

They are pressed into conducting online criminal activity, ranging from love scams known as "pig butchering" and crypto fraud, to money laundering and illegal gambling.

Some are willing to do the work, but others are forced to stay, with release only possible if their families pay large ransoms. Some of those who have escaped have described being tortured.

The released foreign workers were handed over by the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, DKBA, one of several armed factions which control territory inside Karen State.

These armed groups have been accused of allowing the scam compounds to operate under their protection, and of tolerating the widespread abuse of trafficking victims who are forced to work in the compounds.

The Myanmar government has been unable to extend its control over much of Karen State since independence in 1948.

On Tuesday, Thailand's Department of Special Investigation, which is similar to the US FBI, requested arrest warrants for three commanders of another armed group known as the Karen National Army.

The warrants included Saw Chit Thu, the Karen warlord who struck a deal in 2017 with a Chinese company to build Shwe Kokko, a new city believed to be largely funded by scams.

The BBC visited Shwe Kokko at the invitation of Yatai, the company which built the city.

Yatai says there are no more scams in Shwe Kokko. It has put up huge billboards all over town proclaiming, in Chinese, Burmese and English, that forced labour is not allowed, and that "online businesses" should leave.

But we were told by local people that the scam business was still running, and interviewed a worker who had been employed in one.

Like the DKBA, Saw Chit Thu broke away from the main Karen insurgent group, the KNU, in 1994, and allied himself to the Myanmar military.

Under pressure from Thailand and China, both Saw Chit Thu and the DKBA have said they are expelling the scam businesses from their territories.

The DKBA commander contacted a Thai member of parliament on Tuesday to arrange the handover of the 260 workers.

They included 221 men and 39 women, from Ethiopia, Kenya, the Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Nepal, Uganda, Laos, Burundi, Brazil, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sir Lanka, India, Ghana and Cambodia.