Other news of the day: Taliban supreme leader calls for “necessary” measures taken by Kabul to improve women’s lives. More than 120,000 people gathered in Pyongyang to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War, with threats to the US Tourism in China surged for the Dragon Boat Festival, but absolute tourism numbers remain lower than previously to covid. Vietnam on the FATF “grey list” in relation to the control of weapons of mass destruction. Turkish companies will produce weapons in Ukraine.
SYRIA
The Russian aircraft attacked a market in Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in northwest Syria, with a balance of at least 13 victims, nine of them civilians. Among these there would also be two children. More than 30 injured, some in serious condition. In recent months, Moscow has scaled back its attacks on Syria and concentrated its forces on the Ukrainian front. Yesterday was the bloodiest of 2023.
AFGHANISTAN
Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada released a (rare) message stating that Kabul has taken the necessary steps to improve women’s lives in Afghanistan, where they are prohibited from living and working in public, and their education is severely restricted. Their rights, he added, are “protected” by sharia, Islamic law.
THAILAND
The Thai authorities conducted a ceremony in front of the Tham Luang cave, in Chiang Rai province, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the global mission to rescue 12 trapped young footballers and their coach. Photographs of the “three heroes” leading the rescue were on display, including former Navy Seal diver Saman Kunan, who died in the operation.
CHINA
The tourist trips during the Dragon Boat Festival last week they increased by 32.3% over 2022 for a total of 106 million, 12.8% more than the pre-Covid 2019 figure. The numbers are watched closely because they are the litmus test of consumer demand. However, global tourism figures are still 22.8% lower than before the pandemic.
VIETNAM
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has added Vietnam to the “grey list” of countries under control, along with twenty others around the world, including the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Panama, despite their commitment to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Myanmar, Iran and North Korea are the only countries on the “black list”.
NORTH KOREA
The North Korean regime organized yesterday in Pyongyang a massive demonstration, with slogans and threats to the United States, against which a “war of revenge” will be unleashed. About 120,000 workers and students attended the event marking the 73rd anniversary of the start of the Korean War. One of the banners displayed read “America is our firing range.”
Türkiye – UKRAINE
The Turkish company Baykar has received the license to produce the “Bayraktar TB2” and “Akinci” drones in Ukraine, with an investment of 100 million dollars until 2025. Big profits are expected, according to the director, Haluk Bayraktar, who has already in 2019 it had planned to open two factories. The “Kizilelma” combat aircraft and other technologies will also be assembled in Ukraine.
RUSSIA – UN
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, included the Russian army in the “list of shame”, accusing Moscow of the death of 136 children in Ukraine in 2022. The document will be sent to the Security Council. Guterres said he was “particularly shocked” by the sheer number of children killed and injured and by the massive attacks targeting schools and hospitals.
