ASIA TODAY Chinese domestic tourism surpassed pre-Covid-19 levels with travel up 20%

Today’s news: ‘Shoot on sight’ ordered in Manipur to curb inter-ethnic violence. Bloody day in Pakistan with 16 victims, including seven teachers. Arab League foreign ministers set to normalize relations with Damascus on May 7, Qatar is isolated. Fires in northern Laos have burned half of the forested area.

CHINA

He Chinese domestic tourism surpassed pre-pandemic levels during the five-day May Day holiday. The Ministry of Tourism reported that 274 million trips were registered, almost 20% more than in 2019, the last year before the closures imposed by Covid-19. Tourists spent about $21 billion, more than double the amount in 2022.

INDIA

After the curfew, the authorities of the northeastern Indian state of Manipur gave the order to “shoot on sight”, in response to inter-ethnic violence that has erupted in recent days causing damage to goods and property. Governor Anusuiya Uikey ordered the use of weapons – which the law authorizes only “in extreme cases” – in order to “maintain public order and tranquility.”

MYANMAR

Due to clashes between the military and the People’s Defense Forces (together with ethnic militias) between January and April there were 680,000 new internally displaced, according to data from ISP-Myanmar. Since the February 2021 coup, more than 2.6 million people have had to leave their homes. Added to this is the continued exodus of Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh, India and Thailand.

PAKISTAN – AFGHANISTAN

bloody day in Pakistan, with 16 victims, six of them soldiers. In the first attack claimed by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) the military clashed yesterday with “terrorist” groups in North Waziristan, on the border with Afghanistan, killing three of them. In Kurram district, gunmen attacked a school, killing seven teachers belonging to the Shiite minority.

SYRIA – MIDDLE EAST

The foreign ministers of the countries of the Arab league They will meet on May 7 in Cairo to discuss the reincorporation of Syria – expelled in 2011 – and the normalization of relations with Bashar al-Assad. The conflict in Sudan will also be discussed. Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have changed their approach to Damascus, but others, such as Qatar, remain opposed to a full return.

LAOS

The fires in some areas of northern Laos they have burned up to half of the forested areas. The fires affected mountainous and remote areas, difficult to access for firefighters, who lack modern equipment. The phenomenon has lasted for several weeks now, fueled by above-average dry weather, especially in the provinces of Luang Prabang, Xayabury and Oudomxay.

RUSSIA

One of the consequences of Western sanctions is the collapse of road safety in Russia, where serious accidents have increased by more than 80% due to a lack of spare parts for imported vehicles and outdated technology in Russian cars. Industry experts believe that the situation will worsen as the car fleet ages.

ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN

Dozens of relatives of the fallen in the war against Azerbaijan for Nagorno Karabagh and the borders led a protest demonstration in front of the Yerevan government headquarters. The protesters called for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused of weakness in defending men and territories, and they want to sue him for treason.