Other news of the day: Philippine President Marcos will present the project to create a sovereign wealth fund in Davos; in Laos there is a shortage of doctors and teachers; Australia will not play cricket against Afghanistan; Indian syrups continue to cause deaths; some African Orthodox clergy completed refresher courses in Moscow.
MYANMAR
the baptist pastor hkalam samson, former chairman of the Kachin Baptist Convention, who was jailed by the Burmese coup junta in recent months and is currently being held in Myitkyina, Kachin state, has yet to be released. On the contrary, the military has filed new charges against him. The trial must begin today and will take place inside the prison. If he is found guilty, he faces up to 3 years in prison.
PHILIPPINES
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that he will raise the issue of creating a sovereign fund at the Davos economic summit (January 16-20) despite the fact that the country’s Congress has not yet approved the bill. The plan had been criticized by the opposition because it provided for the initial capital to be taken from Philippine pension funds. Now the bill establishes that the first investors will be the central bank and other state banks.
LAOS
The communist government of Laos plans to hire 800 public employees this year, that will cover the functions of doctors and teachers but, according to experts, the figure will not be enough to make up for the lack of personnel. To respect budget constraints, the hiring of civil servants has declined steadily in recent years, from 2,000 in 2020 and 1,600 in 2021 to 1,300 last year, leading to a chronic shortage of educators and doctors.
AUSTRALIA – AFGHANISTAN
The Australian men’s cricket team withdrew from a series of matches against Afghanistan in protest of the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women in the country. Afghan cricket star Rashid Khan expressed his regret at the decision: “I am really disappointed to hear that Australia withdrew from the series not to play us in March.” I am very proud to represent my country and we have made great strides on the world stage. This decision takes us back in time, ”he said, calling for sports and politics to be separated.
INDIA – UZBEKISTAN
The World Health Organization stated that two cough syrups made in India did not meet production standards, so he advised against continuing to give them to children. The alarm began when about 18 children from Uzbekistan died after taking the drug, a circumstance that had already occurred in Uganda. Marion Biontech, the manufacturer, denied the allegations.
PAKISTAN – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The United Arab Emirates agreed to renew a $2 billion loan to Pakistan and promised a new $1 billion loan. The news came yesterday after a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The economic situation in Pakistan has forced the government to resort to extreme measures, such as the early closure of restaurants and shops, while the World Bank has reduced its growth forecasts by 2%.
RUSSIA
Another “big shot” died mysteriously in Russia, 50-year-old police colonel Khabas Tsipinov, who had traveled from Moscow for the New Year holidays to his native Kabardino-Balkaria. He drowned in the river along which he had gone for a walk. He slipped and fell into the water, where the body was only found on January 10.
RUSSIA – AFRICA
Refresher courses for five African Orthodox clergymen from Cameroon, Nigeria, Malawi and South Africa concluded in Moscow, receiving theology and liturgy lessons and visiting Russia’s main monasteries and shrines. Four were ordained priests and one deacon by the Russian exarch for Africa, Metropolitan Leonid.
