increased 33% in 2022

Other news of the day: UNESCO added archaeological sites in Yemen and Lebanon to the list of heritage at risk; former Vice President of Taiwan Chen Chien-jen, a 71-year-old Catholic, will be the new prime minister; police arrested four student leaders for trying to screen a BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Modi; the Duma approves the law that extends the obligation of genomic registration to all.

MYANMAR

In Myanmar ruled by the coup military junta, the opium cultivation increased 33% last year. The figure is contained in a UN report and reverses the results of the previous six years, when the democratic government of Aung San Suu Kyi was in charge of the country. Therefore, the increase is “directly related” to the political and economic turmoil and the regime of the armed forces.

YEMEN – LEBANON

UNESCO has included the monuments of the ancient kingdom of Saba (Marib) in the list of world heritage of humanity in danger. An emergency procedure was used due to threats of destruction related to the conflict that began in 2014. The list also includes the Rachid Karameh International Fair in Tripoli, Lebanon, one of the most significant architectures of the 20th century.

CHINA

The critical cases of covid-19 decreased 72%, while daily deaths in hospitals are down 79%. This was reported by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, according to which during the phase of maximum viral circulation there were 7 million infections (December 22) and more than 4,000 deaths on January 4. An expert considers that more than 80% of the 1,400 million inhabitants have been infected.

INDIA

Four members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) were arrested yesterday by the police, a few hours after a BBC documentary criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi was shown at Jamia University. The university declared that they did not have the permits required for the exhibition and that it would have been the authorities of the institution that cut off the electricity and alerted the police.

TAIWAN

Former Vice President of Taiwan between 2016 and 2020, Chen Chien-jen, A 71-year-old Catholic, he will be the new prime minister with the reshuffling of the cabinet after the electoral defeat of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in last year’s elections. His predecessor, Su Tseng-chang, resigned last week along with all the cabinet ministers.

THAILAND

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has published new directives for tourism agencies to promote Thai culture and attract international visitors. The document is based on the 5Fs (in English: food, film, fashion, fighting and festival). As far as food is concerned, 2023 has been declared the Year of Thai Gastronomy, with events ranging from street food to industry fairs.

RUSSIA

The Moscow Duma has definitively approved the law that extends the obligation of genomic registration to the entire population, beginning with all those convicted by court sentence and all those detained. Until now, DNA analysis was carried out only on those convicted of serious crimes, or against the sexual integrity of the person.

KYRGYZSTAN – AFGHANISTAN

A group of Kyrgyz from Afghanistan has recently approached the Bishkek government, asking for help to return to their homeland, in the Vakhansk corridor area, after having sold their property and animals. The reason for that request is the attempt to escape from the Taliban; They are currently in precarious rented housing near the border with Tajikistan, in Badakshan province.