Pakistan, Malaysia, Libya.

Today's three stories you should know.

Jun 23, 2023

Pakistan

At least 350 of the hundreds of people that drowned in last week’s boat disaster off the coast of Greece were from Pakistan, the country’s interior minister said today. Rana Sanaullah told parliament that authorities would hunt down and prosecute the human traffickers involved, adding that 281 families had contacted the government to help identify their relatives. More than 700 people, from countries including Egypt, Syria and Pakistan, are thought to have been on board the vessel when it sank about 80 km from the southern Greek town of Pylos. Just over 100 people survived.

Malaysia

Four Thai men have been charged with human trafficking in Malaysia after mass graves were found in remote jungle along the Thai-Malaysian border eight years ago. At least 139 bodies were exhumed from dozens of grave sites. The victims were mostly members of Myanmar’s minority Rohingya population who had travelled through Thailand apparently hoping to settle in Malaysia. The Muslim-majority Rohingya, one of the most persecuted minority groups in the world, are deprived of citizenship and many rights in Myanmar despite being present there for generations. It is believed they saw Malaysia as a friendly Muslim nation where they could claim refuge.

Libya

Slightly odd story out of Libya. Fifty Chinese citizens have been arrested in the city of Zlitan after authorities raided an illegal cryptocurrency mining operation. It comes after 10 Chinese nationals were arrested in another city earlier in the week for the same crime. It is thought they come to Libya to take advantage of cheap energy costs.