Yet on Monday in The Hague, that record of statements was cited back to Duterte.

Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity at the  International Criminal Court (ICC) linked to his anti-drug campaign. During the confirmation of charges hearing, prosecutors outlined a series of public remarks they said demonstrated his knowledge of, and intent behind, a campaign that resulted in thousands of deaths.

In his opening statement, Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang argued that Duterte’s own speeches showed awareness of the scale of the killings and the assurances extended to police officers and alleged vigilantes.

“Duterte's criminal plan and his intent were no secret,” Niang said. “He not only shared them with his co-perpetrators and members of the death squad (Davao Death Squad) but also made them abundantly clear to the general public in the numerous public statements that he made time and again.”

These are some of Duterte’s statements cited by the ICC prosecution:

“ The shoot-to-kill order is a legitimate tool of the government to combat lawlessness.”

The ICC said evidence indicated “the Davao City Mayor’s Office provided some members of the DDS with regular salaries. Financial rewards were also given to direct perpetrators in the form of cash per killing.”

“ For as long as there is the power to pardon in the Constitution, that’s my weapon against crime. If you massacre a hundred people, and there are a hundred of you, then I’ll pardon all of you. You’ll be restored to full political and civil rights, plus a promotion on top of that. That’s how it is — especially for high-profile cases.”

Niang said such statements “reassured the physical perpetrators,” citing an insider witness who said he felt confident killing under Duterte because he expected immunity. “Direct perpetrators were further emboldened to commit crime by Mr. Duterte's repeated promises of immunity,” he added.

“ Those of you who are still sober, those who haven't tried illegal drugs, if you don't want to die or get hurt, don't rely on the priest, including human rights advocates. They won't be able to prevent death, so don't do it. And then there you are, sprawled on the ground, and you are portrayed in a broad sheet like Mother Mary cradling the dead cadaver of Jesus Christ. That's how they are creating dramas here.”

The statement referenced a widely circulated photograph by Filipino photographer Raffy Lerma showing a woman cradling her partner’s body with a placard reading, “Pusher ako (I’m a drug pusher).”

Though not a primary focus of the hearing, Duterte also made statements during the COVID-19 lockdowns that prosecutors described as potentially threatening, including instructions to shoot violators if their lives were in danger. 

The Philippines implemented one of the world’s longest pandemic lockdowns, which had significant social and economic impacts.

“ If there is any trouble, or occasions when there’s violence and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead!”

Duterte faces three counts of murder and attempted murder spanning his mayoral and presidential terms. The ICC links him to 78 killings and attempted killings, which prosecutors argue were neither “random” nor “isolated.”

“They were part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population of the Philippines,” Niang said. “The murders and attempted murders were carried out across the Philippines and over a substantial period of time.”

Yet even without citing his statements, the ICC prosecution maintains it has enough evidence to proceed.

“For purposes of this confirmation hearing, disregard every speech ever made by Mr. Duterte. Throw them all out,” said senior trial lawyer Julian Nicholls. “There is still ample evidence of substantial ground based on the other evidence which we have put on our list."

This closer coordination comes as drug trafficking networks increasingly exploit regional transit routes and disparities in enforcement capacity, a problem the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had already identified years before. 

According to the ASEAN Drug Monitoring Report 2022 , Brunei recorded 613 drug arrests that year, equivalent to about 0.14% of its population, with methamphetamine and cannabis remaining the most commonly seized drugs. 

Indonesia, by contrast, was grappling with large-scale and highly organised networks at the time. 

The ASEAN report shows Indonesian authorities dismantled 49 drug syndicates in 2022, including 23 international networks, and seized more than 8.5 tonnes of methamphetamine and over 123 tonnes of cannabis.

Officials from both sides said the cooperation aims to bridge this disparity by pairing Indonesia’s experience in dismantling large syndicates with Brunei’s border controls and early-intervention capabilities. 

The agreement also aligns with ASEAN’s broader push for coordinated responses, as regional assessments warn that traffickers rapidly adapt to enforcement pressure by shifting routes, substances and operating methods.

Both countries said the framework would allow faster intelligence exchange and more coordinated action, as no single jurisdiction can effectively counter transnational drug networks acting across ASEAN.

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, now facing a potential Interpol red notice request, has claimed that the ICC has issued a war rant for Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa over his role in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug war. Roque offered no source for his information.

“Sen. Bato, your warrant of arrest is out! Don’t let yourself be kidnapped!” Roque said in a Facebook post, urging the senator to insist on being brought before a Philippine court first. His warning also echoed the “kidnapping” narrative that supporters tried to frame Duterte’s arrest in.

The Department of Justice has yet to confirm the claim. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed in November that an ICC warrant already existed, though the document has never been made public. Since then, Dela Rosa has stopped attending Senate sessions.

Dela Rosa asked the Supreme Court to compel the Ombudsman to release the supposed warrant, but the high court rejected his petition. The Office of the Solicitor General maintains there is no official basis for fears of an ICC arrest.

Dela Rosa, Duterte’s former police chief, is considered one of the architects of Oplan Tokhang , the anti-drug campaign that killed at least 6,000 people according to government data. Human rights groups estimate the death toll at up to 30,000.

On Monday, Dela Rosa’s lawyer, Atty. Israelito Torreon, said the senator is simply waiting for official procedure before facing any ICC order — if it exists. He said neither Dela Rosa nor his legal team has seen an actual warrant.

“We should have clear-cut implementing rules,” Torreon said, adding that cooperation with the ICC must follow both the Rome Statute and Philippine law . He said he believes a warrant may already have been issued but cannot confirm it.

Torreon also defended Dela Rosa’s continued absence from the Senate, saying it stemmed from legitimate concerns for the senator’s safety. He warned that Dela Rosa could be picked up and taken to the ICC without legal safeguards, which he called unacceptable.

Despite criticism, Torreon said they welcome public scrutiny: “It means they are really keeping an eye on Sen. Bato.”

However, the most recent controversy does not concern small-time users or street-level peddlers. Instead, it erupted at the highest levels of government and within the Marcos family itself.

On Monday, Senator Imee Marcos publicly accused her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and their children of being drug addicts. 

“Ever since Bongbong and I were kids, the family already knew about him,” she said at a rally organized by the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo.

“I knew that he was using drugs,” she added, claiming the President’s alleged addiction worsened after marrying Liza, whom she also accused of drug use.

Imee further alleged that the First Family encouraged her own children and other relatives to take illegal drugs. 

She said she had kept her distance from the First Family since 2022 due to what she described as “blatant drinking and use of cocaine and other illegal drugs.”

Malacañang was quick to refute the allegations. 

Citing the President’s negative drug tests, Palace undersecretary Claire Castro said Imee was only “tarnishing” her brother’s name and questioned her motives.

Representative Sandro Marcos also rejected the claims as “not only false, but dangerously irresponsible,” accusing his aunt of spreading a “web of lies” for political gain.

The allegations follow earlier attempts by pro-Duterte groups to link Marcos to illegal drugs, including a fake viral video in July 2024 and Duterte’s own accusations in a January rally.

“The Chinese government agreed on a plan to stop fentanyl precursors,” Patel said at a White House briefing, describing his trip to China last week. “These substances are now banned, and they will no longer be utilised by the Mexican drug trafficking organisations or any other [drug trafficking organisations] around the world to make this drug.”

“Essentially, President Trump has shut off the pipeline that creates fentanyl that kills tens of thousands of Americans,” he added.

Patel arrived in Beijing on November 7 and stayed for about a day, Reuters reported. It was the first visit by an FBI director to China in over a decade, where Patel met his Chinese counterpart to address the issue directly.

In exchange for China’s actions, Washington halved US tariffs from 20 percent to 10 percent on Chinese goods linked to the fentanyl crisis. The synthetic opioid claimed an estimated 48,422 American lives last year, compared with 76,282 in 2023, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

On Monday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the country would adjust its list of drug-related precursor chemicals and require licences for exports of certain chemicals to the US, Canada and Mexico .

China’s National Narcotics Control Commission also issued a circular calling on exporters to follow international conventions and “laws and regulations of importing countries, especially high-risk countries such as the United States, Canada, and Mexico.” It urged them to ensure overseas customers “fulfil import legal procedures in accordance with their own national laws and regulations.”

"To protest against violence , to take action against violence, and also obviously to protest so that right-wing groups, opportunistic parties, and scavengers do not use the rightful anger of the protest," said one participant.

Organisers, mostly young demonstrators, voiced frustration that political groups had adopted the Straw Hat Pirates’ Jolly Roger symbol for their own purposes. 

"Many times right-wing groups, fascist groups, are the first to criminalise protest , the first to take rights away from the LGBT community, to ignore structural or systemic problems, etc. So it is even incongruent for them to take a symbol that has nothing to do with them," said another protester.

Participants also denounced U.S. anti-drug operations in the Caribbean, likening them to past interventions in Latin America . 

"This narco narrative of 'they are narcos, let's kill them,' which is the same one the United States has used for interventions in Venezuela ," said one protester. 

Police monitored the demonstration, which briefly disrupted traffic along Paseo de la Reforma, but no major incidents were reported.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Saturday, October 11, that authorities had intercepted 2.7 tonnes of cocaine on a speedboat allegedly bound for Costa Rica. “Without killing anyone. Without firing missiles,” Petro wrote on X, claiming five Colombian nationals were captured alive. He described the operation as evidence of Colombia’s ability to combat drug trafficking without resorting to violence .

But Costa Rica’s Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora, disputed Petro’s version. He said the boat was not heading for Costa Rica, as Petro claimed, and that the seizure was conducted by Costa Rica’s Coast Guard in cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Zamora also corrected the figures, saying 2.37 tonnes of cocaine were confiscated, and that the crew consisted of two Colombians and three Costa Ricans, not five Colombians.

In response, Petro insisted that “nobody is lying,” sharing an official statement from Colombia’s National Police asserting that the cocaine belonged to dissident groups of the FARC. However, the report aligned with Costa Rica’s version regarding the number of detainees, listing three Colombians and two Costa Ricans.

The disagreement unfolds as Colombia questions Washington’s military presence in the Caribbean, which the US says is part of its anti-narcotics strategy. Former Costa Rican president Laura Chinchilla urged both nations to restore direct dialogue, recalling a time when bilateral cooperation on security was “excellent.” Minister Zamora, however, was blunt in his response: “We talk to the DEA, not to Petro.”

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the decision reflects record levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia, as well as what Washington considers failed negotiations with armed groups involved in the drug trade. The State Department added that Colombia could be removed from the list if Petro’s government adopts “aggressive measures” to eradicate coca, curb trafficking, and hold criminal networks accountable.

Petro, in a televised cabinet meeting, criticised the move, saying that Colombia had paid a high price in lives lost among police, soldiers, and civilians trying to stop cocaine from reaching international markets.

The decertification could restrict funding and cooperation in the fight against criminal organisations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN, and dissident factions of the FARC. It also marks a setback in relations between Washington and Bogotá, which have historically maintained close security ties.

This is not the first time Colombia has faced decertification: the last occurred in 1996 and 1997, during the presidency of Ernesto Samper, who was accused of accepting illicit drug money for his campaign.

Relations between Trump and Petro have been strained for months. In July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recalled his chargé d’affaires in Bogotá after what he called “baseless” statements from Colombian officials. Earlier this year, the two leaders clashed over Colombia’s refusal to accept U.S. military deportation flights, prompting Trump to threaten tariffs and sanctions.

Despite the tensions, the United States remains Colombia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $33.8 billion in 2023 under a free trade agreement in force since 2006.

That’s why Anutin’s election, which followed the removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra by the Constitutional Court over ethics violations, has raised questions over whether the cannabis sector would get a new lease on life after a series of erratic government policies.

Context may offer a clearer picture of what comes next for weed in Thailand.

What we know 

Thailand first eased restrictions in 2018, allowing cannabis for medical use. It was the first country in Southeast Asia to do so, softening penalties that once carried up to 15 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 baht ($4,700).

In early 2022, Thailand made its most dramatic shift, removing cannabis from the list of narcotics. Anutin, then health minister, was a key backer, calling the move a “win-win” for the Thai people.

The new rules allowed households to grow cannabis without notifying the government , and opened the door for businesses to apply for licenses.

The policy was historic: Thailand became the first Asian nation to legalise cannabis in a region known for some of the world ’s harshest drug laws.

By 2025, more than 18,000 licensed cannabis shops were operating, with the Ministry of Commerce valuing the industry at $1.2 billion. Tourists were drawn by the lax regulations, further fueling the boom.

Sans clear-cut rules to moderate its sale, weed grew faster than oversight could keep up with. Authorities began warning of “social harm” from unregulated recreational use, while smuggling surged. Between October 2024 and March 2025, British officials reported that more than 800 cannabis smugglers were arrested and nine metric tons of cannabis were seized.

In June 2025, the Thai government ultimately pumped the brakes on the green rush as they imposed new rules requiring a medical prescription for cannabis purchases, effectively ending the open market. It also bared plans to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic.

The reversal came as Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party exited the ruling coalition, following Paetongtarn’s ethics scandal tied to a phone call with Cambodian de facto leader Hun Sen about a border dispute.

What’s next?

Anutin has been in office for less than a week. So far, he has focused on assembling his Cabinet, outlining short-term plans for the economy , and preparing to tackle the border dispute with Cambodia. 

Though the cannabis issue remains untouched, his stance is anticipated by the thousands of cannabis businesses. Over the weekend, just a day after his election, Anutin appeared in a cannabis-print shirt while meeting prospective Cabinet members.

Anutin’s administration, however, is transitional. He has just four months to govern under an agreement with the People’s Party, which backed his premiership bid.

Analysts see both Anutin and the Bhumjaithai Party as middle-ground actors in the cannabis debate: opposed to re-criminalisation, but supportive of tighter rules on recreational use.

Whether Thailand ultimately prioritises profit or principle remains an open question. As Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, it stands to gain from a thriving cannabis sector. 

But with only months to set clear laws, the future of Thailand’s weed experiment remains clouded in smoke.

“There is a real risk that they will not embrace something that could literally save lives. We need to remember not to ignore the need for community sensitisation and mobilisation,” she said.

Her comments come as African countries begin to roll out new malaria tools, including vaccines and child-specific treatments, in regions where the disease remains the leading cause of death for children.

Using Uganda as an example, Krystal highlighted the importance of community-level systems like Village Health Teams. These teams, made up of trained volunteers, play a key role in educating the public, offering basic treatment, and referring patients for care, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.

“We have the new vaccines coming in, which is excellent. But if people are not educated to this, if they’re not sensitised, then it could all fall flat,” Krystal added. Malaria kills hundreds of thousands in Africa every year, the majority of them children .

The new drug, designed specifically for babies, could help fill a major treatment gap, but for it to work, advocates say, communities must first know it exists.

The sedative, normally used by doctors to put patients to sleep before surgery, is now being misused in vapes known locally as “K-pods.”

These vapes are illegal in Singapore, but they continue to circulate on the black market, especially among young people .

Authorities recently tested more than 100 of these devices and found the drug in about one in three.

It is fast-acting and, in a hospital setting, can safely lower consciousness for short periods, but when used without supervision, it can cause panic, confusion, unconsciousness, and addiction.

Doctors say repeated use can also shut down the body’s stress system by affecting the adrenal glands. This makes it harder for the body to respond to emergencies or even basic stress.

“It can shut down your adrenal glands, which are critical for producing certain stress hormones like cortisol. This suppression can last for a few days and leave your body unable to handle stress,” Dr Lee Chuen Peng, a lung specialist, was quoted as saying .

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced that the sedative will soon be listed under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act.

This means that anyone caught with the drug will face the same punishments as those caught with substances like heroin or cannabis.

First-time users may be sent to drug rehabilitation centres. Repeat offenders could be jailed or fined heavily.

The move follows similar bans in China and Hong Kong, where the drug has also appeared in black-market vape products.

Singapore already has strict laws against e-cigarettes and vaping devices.

But the new step is aimed at keeping dangerous drugs out of circulation and stopping a growing trend of young people using vapes for more than just nicotine.

This marks a major step in Thailand’s efforts to make cancer treatment more affordable and accessible.

The breakthrough comes from the Chulabhorn Royal Academy under the leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana.

She launched a national effort to improve access to effective cancer treatment by setting up a pharmaceutical factory in 2020 at Phimanmas Residence in Chon Buri.

The facility meets international drug production standards and is the country’s first cancer drug manufacturing site.

Imcranib 100 is part of a new generation of treatments that aim to attack cancer cells more precisely, helping to avoid the harsh side effects of traditional chemotherapy.

Thai scientists have also developed a second major drug called Herdara, a targeted biological medicine for cancer treatment.

It was approved by the country’s Food and Drug Administration in May and is the first of its kind made entirely by Thai researchers without any foreign technology .

What they said

Punnathat Phutthisawong, a dispensary worker, bemoaned the situation. "This is my main source of income. Many shops are probably just as shocked because a lot of them invested heavily." Cannabis activist Chokwan Kitty Chopaka also said, "The cannabis industry has become a hostage to politics ."

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told reporters on June 23 that drug trafficking remained a serious threat to the country.

He said there were around 400,000 drug users in the country, which has a population of 22 million.

“We need to reduce demand while keeping up detections,” he said .

Sri Lanka’s police chief Priyantha Weerasooriya said the drugs seized this year were worth nearly 23 billion rupees, close to the total value of all drugs seized in 2024.

Authorities have arrested over 1,000 suspects for drug-related crimes in recent months.

Among them was a 38-year-old Thai woman caught at Colombo airport on May 30 with nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine, the largest such seizure at a Sri Lankan entry point.

Three other people from Britain, India and Thailand were also arrested in May after trying to smuggle about 60 kilograms of synthetic cannabis.

They are now facing life in prison if found guilty.

The image for this article was AI-generated

South Florida lawmakers condemned the shooting of Colombian senator Miguel Uribe Turbay at a campaign rally in Bogota. The 39-year-old politician, who is in critical condition after surgery, was attacked on Saturday, raising concerns about political violence in Colombia. Senator Uribe, associated with a prominent political family, is a candidate for the upcoming presidential election in May 2026. Statements from U.S. representatives highlighted the incident as a threat to democracy, calling for accountability and an end to inflammatory government rhetoric.

Miracle needed for shot Candidate's survival

Miguel Uribe Turbay's health remains critical following a shooting incident at a campaign rally, with doctors stating he requires a 'miracle' for recovery. The 39-year-old senator, who was shot twice, underwent surgery but has shown little response to treatment. A 15-year-old suspect has been arrested, with police revealing the weapon used was legally purchased. Uribe is the grandson of a former president and has a history of advocacy against violence, making this attack particularly significant against the backdrop of Colombia's political landscape.

South Florida man arrested for drug trafficking

Chip Ervin, 46, was arrested at Miami International Airport after arriving from Colombia with nearly 3,000 hydrocodone pills in his baggage. The man was apprehended during a secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Ervin, who claimed to be in Colombia for dental work, now faces serious drug trafficking charges following the discovery of the controlled substances in his luggage.

Discovering 'real Colombia' in Mompox

The travel experience in Santa Cruz de Mompox offers a glimpse into what some locals call the 'real Colombia', contrasting with the more tourist-heavy areas like Cartagena. Mompox, rich in colonial history without the presence of major commercial chains, provides a serene setting where visitors can enjoy riverfront views and local gastronomy. This less-explored destination appeals to those seeking an authentic cultural experience away from commercialisation, capturing the essence of Colombia's heritage.

Kenya’s health sector is faced with a severe $355 million budget deficit that threatens to disrupt critical services, including HIV and tuberculosis treatment, vaccine procurement, and the employment of thousands of healthcare workers under the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative. Read more here .

Trump confronts South Africa's Ramaphosa with false claims of white genocide

U.S. President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on May 21, with explosive false claims of white genocide and land seizures during a tense White House meeting that was reminiscent of his February ambush of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Read more here .

Cholera devastates Sudan’s capital amid conflict, power outages, and water scarcity

Sudan’s Ministry of Health has reported a rise in cholera cases in the capital region, particularly in Karrari locality (Omdurman) and Jabal Awliya, south of Khartoum amid ongoing water crises and weakened public health infrastructure. Read more here .

Asia

China to give $500 million to WHO in next 5 years, official says

China will give an additional $500 million to the World Health Organisation over five years, an official told the World Health Assembly on May 20, as the U.N. agency seeks extra funding to offset the expected loss of its top donor, the United States. Read more here .

Singapore wine investment scam: Man jailed for siphoning $12.7 million

A Singaporean businessman, Eldric Ko, was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison for orchestrating a fraudulent wine investment scheme that defrauded over 200 investors of S$17 million (approximately US$12.67 million) between 2008 and 2011. Read more here .

Bangladesh's Yunus could quit over lack of reform progress, student leader says

Bangladesh's de-facto prime minister has threatened to step down if political parties cannot agree on reforms that citizens await with growing impatience, a top student leader has said, deepening uncertainty in the wake of deadly protests last year. Read more here .

Latin America

Cat caught smuggling drugs into Costa Rica prison

Prison guards in Costa Rica have captured a cat used to smuggle drugs into a jail, in an incident that has shocked and amused the public.The black-and-white cat was spotted near the Pococí Penitentiary, moving suspiciously close to the barbed wire fence. When officers stopped the animal, they found marijuana, heroin and rolling papers strapped to its body with tape. Read more here .

How Brazil dismantled a Russian 'spy factory' training deep cover operatives

A Russian spy operation based in Brazil has been exposed, leading to the dismantling of a network involved in training new intelligence recruits. Nine operatives were uncovered living in Brazil under false identities, according to a recent investigation by the New York Times. Read more here .

Brazil hopes to be officially free of bird flu in 28 days

Brazil began a 28-day bird flu observation period on May 22, which it hopes will show the country's chicken farms are free of the disease after local authorities said a farm where its first outbreak was detected had been fully disinfected. The outbreak in the world's largest chicken exporter, detected in the town of Montenegro in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, triggered trade bans from multiple countries. Read more here .

Formally approved by the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Environment , the second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance will run from 2025 to 2029.

The plan was first introduced in December 2024 during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, happens when bacteria and other germs become stronger than the drugs meant to kill them.

According to health experts, this could make common infections, surgeries, and even childbirth more dangerous if action isn’t taken.

“This marks another important step in our journey to safeguard the effectiveness of life-saving medicines for future generations,” Dr Claude Muvunyi, Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, told The New Times .

The new strategy builds on Rwanda’s first AMR plan, which ran from 2020 to 2024 but takes a broader approach by focusing not just on human health, but also on animals and the environment.

The plan was developed by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre with help from local groups and international partners, including the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and several health NGOS.

It focuses on raising awareness about AMR, improving hygiene to stop infections, and using antibiotics more carefully in hospitals, farms, and communities.

The plan also pushes for new tools like better tests, vaccines , and treatments.

Rwanda is the first country in Africa to use a tool called the Smart Choice Process to help decide which actions to take. The full plan is expected to cost around $29.6 million.

Officials believe the plan will help protect the country’s health system, reduce the cost of treating drug-resistant infections, and support international goals to make medicine safer and more effective worldwide.

A growing opioid crisis is gripping Ghana, with increasing numbers of young people abusing the drug known locally as "Red." Disturbing social media videos reveal youth in severe distress after taking opioids, often seeking an energy boost for physically demanding jobs or influenced by peer pressure. In an interview, users such as 20-year-old Ekow Annan from the Western Region and Charles Manu from Koforidua described how they became dependent on opioids to cope with labour or enhance sexual performance, RFI reports. Health experts are raising the alarm over the dangerous side effects, which include seizures, depression, and cognitive impairment. Dr. Kwabena Ofori of the Presbyterian Hospital in Dormaa Ahenkro highlighted that the drugs are illegally entering the country through ports and unapproved routes, with weak regulation exacerbating the crisis. "There is an abnormal electrical activity in the brain, potentially leading to seizures. There are also mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. There are also difficulties concentrating, memory problems, and decision-making issues," he said.

Gold reserves surge

Ghana’s official gold reserves have quadrupled in less than two years, reaching 31.37 tonnes by April 2025, up from 8.78 tonnes in May 2023, according to the Bank of Ghana. This rise has been attributed to a strategic decision to diversify foreign reserves and reduce dependence on traditional currencies, local news portal Citinewsroom reports. The GoldBod initiative, introduced under President John Dramani Mahama, has played a crucial role by securing commitments from major mining firms to supply 20% of their output to the local market. As Africa’s leading gold producer, Ghana is reinforcing its economic stability through this bold reserve expansion strategy.

Banking sector staff fraud

The Bank of Ghana's latest fraud report reveals a worrying trend: 155 banking employees were dismissed for fraud in 2024, with a total of 365 implicated. Fraud incidents in banks and Special Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs) rose to 16,733 cases, a 5% increase from 2023, with associated financial risks reaching nearly GH¢99 million. The central bank noted in its report, "The lengthy nature of court cases often discourages institutions from pursuing them, resulting in fewer successful recoveries." The report further observed that "this is an indication that other staff implicated in fraudulent activities are either exonerated or given lesser punishments," Business Insider Africa quotes. The central bank criticised the sluggish legal system for deterring the recovery of stolen funds, calling for stronger punitive measures and a culture of zero tolerance.

Ghana and Algeria visa-free travel agreement

Ghana and Algeria have signed a visa-free travel pact aimed at boosting cooperation and reviving long-standing bilateral ties. The deal was sealed during Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s official visit to Algiers, where leaders also discussed initiatives in education, security, and trade, Business Insider Africa reports. The announcement followed high-level meetings with Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf. The leaders also tabled plans for direct flights between Accra and Algiers, expanded scholarships in tech-related fields, and revived Joint Economic Cooperation talks.

Non-traditional exports to hit $10 Billion

In a bold economic move, President Mahama inaugurated the Accelerated Export Development Committee (AEDC), aiming to triple Ghana’s non-traditional export revenues from $3.5 billion to $10 billion annually by 2030. The AEDC will spearhead efforts to shift Ghana away from raw material dependency toward value-added exports. “Ghana’s current exports remain dominated by low-complexity raw materials such as gold, cocoa, cashew, and timber, mostly in their raw state. We must change this narrative,” President Mahama noted. Key priorities include modernising port infrastructure and fostering strategic coordination under the National Export Development Strategy, Citinewsroom reports.

The investigation began in August 2024 when Chinese authorities alerted Vietnam about two individuals involved in illegal drug production who had entered the country, along with suspicious shipments of laboratory glassware.

After months of surveillance, C04 identified Zhang Chunming, a 51-year-old Taiwanese national, as the ringleader. Zhang had established a 1,000-square-metre drug production facility in Nha Trang City, disguising it as a fish farming business. He recruited Vietnamese and Chinese nationals to construct and equip the facility with high-tech production lines.

By late January 2025, the workshop had produced 1.8 tonnes of yellow powder, packed into 27 styrofoam containers and stored in a cold storage warehouse in Nha Trang. Zhang then brought in additional personnel to refine the substance into high-purity ketamine using industrial-scale processes.

On March 22, nearly 200 officers launched a massive raid, arresting 16 suspects, including seven from China and Taiwan (China). Authorities seized 1.4 tonnes of ketamine and nearly 80 tonnes of chemicals, preventing the drugs from reaching the market.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Vien, head of C04, described the facility as an "exceptionally large-scale synthetic drug factory equipped with modern production lines and advanced technology." He confirmed it was the largest and most sophisticated lab ever uncovered in Vietnam.

The operation produced some of the highest-purity drugs, handled by highly skilled operators, Vien explained .

Authorities have vowed to continue tightening security and intensifying efforts to combat drug-related crimes.

The announcement came after Motsoaledi met with President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss the backlash.

The presidency said Ramaphosa supports more discussions with experts and the public before making new rules. He wants to ensure that any regulations protect people’s health, especially children, without harming businesses.

Local reports indicate that Motsoaledi had quietly introduced the ban earlier this month under the Foodstuffs Act of 1972.

The rules made it illegal to sell or produce food with cannabis ingredients, including hemp seed oil and hemp flour, threatening persons who defied the rules with a fine or jail time.

Many in the cannabis and hemp industry strongly opposed the move, with some groups threatening legal action and arguing that the ban had no scientific basis and that the government had not consulted them. The Cannabis Trade Association Africa said the ban ignored the fact that hemp products had been traded for years without issue.

Motsoaledi denied reports that the president had summoned him to explain his decision.

However, he acknowledged that he and Ramaphosa had both received complaints from businesses and industry leaders. He said his main concern was unregulated food imports containing cannabis and hemp.

The government had earlier said it wanted to protect consumers from health risks while working on a long-term plan to regulate cannabis and hemp products properly.

Deputy Health Director-General Dr. Anban Pillay confirmed that Motsoaledi had received many comments from people worried about the ban.

In his State of the Nation Address in February, Ramaphosa said he wanted South Africa to be a leader in cannabis and hemp production.

The government’s decision to withdraw the ban shows a shift towards supporting the industry while ensuring proper regulations are in place.

The tunnel was found during a police search of a warehouse in Ceuta. It runs about 12 metres underground and stretches several dozen metres in length.

Reports suggest it may extend at least 50 metres into Moroccan land, but investigators are still working to determine its full size. The tunnel was reinforced with wood, making it strong enough for smuggling operations.

The discovery was part of a police crackdown on drug trafficking known as Operation Hades. Over the past three weeks, authorities have arrested 14 people, including two police officers, and seized 6,000 kilos of hashish.

Ceuta is a major gateway for drugs moving from North Africa into Europe. Smugglers often use creative ways to bypass security, and this tunnel shows the lengths they will go to avoid getting caught.

Police are now investigating whether the tunnel was used for other illegal activities and how long it has been in operation.

The substances, which included different forms of methamphetamine, ketamine, and heroin, were burned at 1,200 degrees Celsius.

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin spoke to reporters at the Food and Drug Administration centre in Nonthaburi before the drugs were taken away for burning.

This latest operation is the 59th of its kind, as the Thai government continues its fight against drug trafficking.

Lucia Rizka Andalucia, Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, said the plan is to make Indonesia more self-sufficient in meeting its healthcare needs.

"The ministry has prepared programs and policies to speed up domestic production," she told the Indonesian News Agency on Monday.

One key area is research and development. From 2022 to 2024, 42 pharmaceutical companies switched from using imported materials to locally sourced ones. This move supports the local industry and strengthens Indonesia's drug supply.

The government is also encouraging companies to use local raw materials by offering incentives, such as tax breaks and other benefits.

This has led to the production of medicines with Indonesian raw materials.

New regulations and policies are also being put in place to support the use of locally made medicines. Hospitals and healthcare providers are being encouraged to buy these products made with domestic raw materials.

The Health Ministry has further issued two key decrees to ensure the success of this program. These decrees promote the use of local drug materials and provide platforms for showcasing these products.

Former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador initiated the proposal, emphasising the need to protect the youth from the dangers of smoking alternatives.

This new reform, which passed with 410 votes in favour and 24 against, also targets the production, distribution, and sale of toxic substances and chemical precursors, as well as the illicit use of fentanyl and other unauthorised synthetic drugs.

Though e-cigarettes are currently available despite previous bans, this amendment aims to solidify restrictions against both vaping and synthetic drugs, which pose significant health risks.

While less than 1 million people in Mexico between the ages of 12 and 65 reported using e-cigarettes regularly in 2022, the prevalence of vaping among teens and adults remains significant, with around 500,000 teenagers and 300,000 adults reportedly using the devices.

"We value girls', boys', and young people's right to good health above economic and political interests," said Mary Carmen Bernal, a lawmaker from the ruling Workers' Party.

However, some opposition members, including legislator Ector Jaime Ramírez, criticised the reform for grouping fentanyl and vaping together, calling it an excessive approach that risks trivialising the fight against more dangerous substances.

The general sentiment among lawmakers calls for prioritising health over economic considerations, moving forward to Senate discussions with a strong majority in the ruling party.

Despite the numerous allegations against Diddy, his defence team stands by its previous comments that the rapper is bouncing back stronger.

"He's doing fine (Sean "Diddy" Combs). You know, Dr King called it the law of unintended consequences. So sometimes the more you push a person down, the stronger they get and so he's making an adjustment. He had his family here today to support him. We really want to put an end to all of the clowning that we see on the Internet. This is a serious proceeding with serious consequences, and all of us are addressing it accordingly," Diddy's lawyer Anthony Ricco told the press on Thursday.

The charges against Combs stem from an extensive investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering. Federal prosecutors have accused the music mogul of orchestrating a network that exploited individuals for commercial sex acts.

R&B singer Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2023, accusing him of repeated physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and rape throughout their decade-long professional and personal relationship.

In November 2023, the two reached an undisclosed settlement, while Combs firmly denied the accusations.

Cassie's lawsuit opened a plethora of legal actions against the 54-year-old rapper by more than 100 people including singer Dawn Richard.

A former addict, Marip (pseudonym) from a refugee camp, describes a bleak reality where many youth, uncertain about their future and without job prospects, turn to drugs for solace. 

"There's a sense of hopelessness after school, and with no guarantee of jobs, many youths in the camps fall into addiction," Marip said. Families desperate for help send their loved ones to jungle-based rehab programs, where alternative treatments like acupuncture have proven effective in reducing cravings and stabilising emotions.

He adds, “In our treatment programme, we help people regain full health, free from drug hangovers and cravings. When their minds fully reject the desire for drugs, we can help them maintain sobriety even after they leave, as it did for me."

Addiction has wreaked havoc on entire communities, with drugs such as methamphetamine - commonly known as "Yaba" - becoming cheaper and more accessible than ever. In some areas, a pill costs less than fifty cents, Benedikt Hofmann, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Southeast Asia representative, told AFP. 

This has consequently created what Edward Blakely, director at the Dare Network, calls "a perfect storm" of addiction fueled by trauma and hopelessness.

“You've got sort of two large problems. You've got a lot of trauma, a lot of generational trauma. People having to have fled their homes, seen their relatives killed. And then there is an abundant supply of drugs and a sense of hopelessness. And those two things put together creates a perfect storm," said Blakely.

Marip, now free from addiction, reflects on the transformation, "After we stopped using drugs and were free from this addiction - there is no price that compares to the freedom from drugs." 

Benedikt Hofmann, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Southeast Asia representative, told AFP that "Right now in some parts of the Mekong, most parts of the Mekong in fact, getting a pill of Yaba, for example, a tablet of Yaba, which is methamphetamine mixed with caffeine, is cheaper than buying a beer. 

In August 2017, violent attacks forced thousands of Rohingya to flee Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Many endured long, dangerous journeys to Bangladesh, where nearly 1 million now live in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. 

Tulum Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo has unveiled plans for a significant infrastructure project—a 26-kilometer bypass road designed to enhance traffic flow to key local attractions such as the airport and Jaguar National Park. In collaboration with Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama and ICA CEO Dr. Guadalupe Phillips, this initiative aims to improve mobility and elevate the quality of life for local residents. According to Mexico News Daily , the proposed highway will consist of one lane in each direction, with a strategic focus on accommodating pedestrians and public transport. Its primary objective is to alleviate congestion, particularly around the airport, thereby facilitating smoother access to other tourist destinations within Quintana Roo. The project is currently in the pre-investment phase, securing funds from both private and public sectors.

Drug cartels and trafficking

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has publicly called on former Secretary of Public Security Genaro García Luna to substantiate allegations suggesting that López Obrador has connections to the Sinaloa cartel. AP reports that this demand follows a jailhouse letter from García Luna's attorney, claiming the president's involvement with drug traffickers. López Obrador has urged García Luna to present any corroborative evidence, including potential videos and communications, for public scrutiny. Facing a prison term of 20 years to life for drug trafficking in the U.S., García Luna maintains his innocence and asserts that he has been wrongfully accused; he is also implicated in an alleged embezzlement scheme amounting to approximately $746 million during his time in office, alongside reports of bribery during his incarceration.

Cartel clashes

Recent violent confrontations between factions of the Sinaloa cartel in Culiacán, Sinaloa, have resulted in a tragic death toll of at least 39 individuals, which includes two soldiers, along with 37 reported disappearances. The unrest has been underscored by armed civilians patrolling the streets, coupled with alarming incidents of highway blockades, arson, and car thefts, as well as cyber-attacks on local government digital platforms. The outburst of violence has instilled a pervasive sense of fear among the populace, leading to deserted shopping districts, halted delivery services, and the closure of educational institutions, Le Monde reports. This upheaval has been attributed to the unexpected capture of cartel leader Ismael Zambada García, which has intensified conflicts between factions controlled by Zambada's and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán's sons. 

Bus stop collapses

In a separate incident, a bus stop in Monterrey, Mexico, collapsed into a two-meter hole, causing injuries to three individuals who were waiting for public transport at the time of the collapse. This event has raised safety concerns regarding urban infrastructure and public facilities, Sky News reports. 

Tropical disturbances

The National Hurricane Center has reported an increasing probability of development for a tropical disturbance within the Caribbean Sea, which poses a potential shift towards the Gulf of Mexico. A broad area of low pressure is anticipated to form by late this weekend or early next week, with an estimated 40% chance of evolving into a tropical depression by mid-next week. At this stage, the likelihood of development within the next 48 hours remains minimal, according to Fox 13 . This system is being influenced by the Central American Gyre, a climatic phenomenon that fosters conditions conducive to tropical storm formation, supported, in part, by warm waters present in the Caribbean.

The South African Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is initiating thorough investigations into a staggering number of leases, alongside a significant R300 million (about $17 million) IT security breach. All Africa reports Minister Dean Macpherson is prioritising the lawful execution of leases and adherence to market-related pricing in a bid to combat corruption within the sector, targeting construction mafias through legal action, including a lawsuit against Kroucamp Plumbers over unlawful tenders.

Eastern Cape Game Reserve fires

Recently, intense wildfires wreaked havoc in the Lawrence de Lange Game Reserve, devastating more than half of its grazing land. Fortunately, the fire was contained without any reported injuries to wildlife. According to News24 , local municipalities, however, felt the brunt of the disaster, exacerbated by prevailing dry weather conditions and powerful winds, highlighting the vulnerability of the region’s ecosystems.

Durban drug busts

In a major crackdown on drug-related crimes, two suspects were apprehended in Durban with a substantial cache of illegal drugs, valued at over R3 million (over $170,000). One individual was found in possession of 900 heroin capsules, prompting further investigations that led to additional drug seizures at other locations. As reported by News24 , one individual also faced charges related to illegal residency, showcasing the multifaceted nature of crime in the area.

Battle for Africa's richest title

In notable financial news, South Africa's Johann Rupert has surpassed Nigeria's Aliko Dangote to become Africa's richest man, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Africa.com highlights that Rupert's net worth surged by $1.9 billion to reach $14.3 billion, while Dangote experienced a decline of $1.7 billion to a net worth of $13.4 billion, as a result of Nigeria's current economic challenges. Despite maintaining the title of Africa's richest according to Forbes for an impressive 13 consecutive years, Dangote now finds himself in second position on Bloomberg's list, with other prominent billionaires such as Nicky Oppenheimer, Nassef Sawiris, and Natie Kirsh ranking third, fourth, and fifth respectively.

Corruption allegations aimed at Justice Minister

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally requested Justice Minister Thembi Simelane to address escalating corruption allegations relating to her involvement in a $130 million banking scandal with VBS Mutual Bank. Under scrutiny, Simelane is alleged to have received an illegal loan exceeding 500,000 rands during her tenure as mayor of Polokwane. As calls for her resignation intensify, opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), are questioning her integrity and leadership abilities. According to News Central , appointed only in June, Simelane’s credibility faces significant challenges given the history of corruption associated with several high-ranking ANC officials and the VBS scandal's detrimental impact on impoverished rural depositors.

US Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, confirmed that collaboration on security issues is ongoing and dismissed rumours of a halt in cooperation.

Zambada, a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested on July 25 in New Mexico. The arrest followed his arrival on a private plane with the son of Joaquín "Chapo" Guzmán. Questions about the details and trust between the two governments regarding the arrest have arisen.

Zambada claims he was kidnapped and handed over to the US by Joaquín Guzmán López. Both governments deny involvement in such an operation. Mexico has noted previous discussions between Guzmán López and US officials.

Zambada also alleges he was ambushed while travelling to meet Guzmán López, Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha, and Congressman Héctor Cuén. Rocha denies attending the meeting, and Cuén was later killed under uncertain circumstances, raising concerns about drug trafficking and politics in Mexico.

The Mexican Attorney General's Office (FGR) has yet to receive information from the US about the flight or its passengers. The FGR plans to charge the Mexicans allegedly involved in the kidnapping with "treason."

Vultures were once common in India, with a population that might have reached over fifty million. However, their numbers have dropped by more than 95% in recent years.

This decline started when farmers began using diclofenac, a painkiller originally introduced by the pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis) in 1973 for humans.

In the 1990s, after the drug's patent expired and cheaper generic versions became available, farmers started using it to treat livestock.

This is reflected in the drop in vulture populations because of the effect of the drug on these birds. When vultures feast on the carcasses of animals treated with diclofenac, they suffer kidney failure and die within weeks.

The more vultures died, the more their population decreased because it took a vulture about a year to produce an egg and another five years for a vulture to reach sexual maturity.

How do vultures dying cause human deaths?

As vultures disappeared their role of eating carcasses was lost. According to Frank and Sudarshan, it takes a flock of vultures (a committee) to clean up the carcass of a 385kg cow to bones within 40 minutes. These scavenger birds have the capacity to ingest meat which contains harmful bacteria.

This leaves no animal waste to create and spread diseases either through scavengers like dogs and rats or through water bodies.

With their absence, there are more rotting carcasses in the open. This also gives more room for rats and feral dogs to feast on these carcasses which are dumped mostly in the outskirts of towns within India when they are not incinerated or buried.

The dogs and rats through feeding then carry diseases like rabies in the process.  

"Carcass dumps in India tend to be on the outskirts of towns. We find that elevated mortality is largest in these populated areas”

Beyond rabies, the uncollected carcasses pose other health risks. Without vultures, harmful bacteria like anthrax can spread more easily to other animals and contaminate water sources.

"We also find evidence of worse water quality in districts affected by the disappearance of vultures after their collapse," the research pointed out.

Death rate figures

Frank and Sudarshan closely examined death rates before and after the decline of vulture populations in India. They found that areas with large vulture populations experienced a noticeable increase in death rates after the birds began to disappear.

Initially, from 1988 to 1993, areas that were unsuitable for vultures, such as cooler and drier regions, had slightly higher death rates, with an extra 1.2 deaths per 1,000 people. The researchers believe this was due to the problem of rotting carcasses, which led to disease in places where vultures were scarce.

However, when vulture numbers plummeted in 1996, the trend reversed. Areas that had previously benefited from large vulture populations started seeing a higher death rate, with 0.65 additional deaths per 1,000 people. By 2005, the gap had widened to 1.4 extra deaths per 1,000 people in these areas.

Now with the spread of rabies through dogs and rats who have access to carcasses, there have been increased rates of rabies in India. In 2023, there were 3 million dog bite cases in India, leading to 4.7 million rabies vaccinations, yet 286 people still died. The study suggests that the loss of vultures directly contributed to this alarming increase in deaths.

The previous year saw a notable increase in e-vaporiser-related offences, with 7,838 people cited for illegal possession or use, up from 4,916 in 2022.

Authorities added that the latest figures include approximately 690 students referred to the HSA by educational institutions and 19 individuals apprehended at key transit points, including Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, Changi Airport, Singapore Cruise Centre, Marina Bay Cruise Centre, and Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.

The enforcement effort is part of a broader multi-agency initiative involving the Health Promotion Board, Ministry of Education, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, National Environment Agency, and National Parks Board.

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Panama-Costa Rica border region, with a depth of 10 km. No immediate damages were reported, English Alarabiy a reports. The epicentre was located southeast of Puerto Armuelles.

Decline in agricultural production

Costa Rica's agricultural sector is experiencing a decline in production, particularly in coffee and bananas. The depreciation of the colon, climatic factors, and exchange rate fluctuations are the main causes, according to The Tico Times . The Central Bank expects a recovery in the second half of the year, but the impact on exports is significant. The coffee sector is also suffering from a decrease in income due to the exchange rate differential.

Costa Rica soccer team wins

Jamaica's Under-20 soccer team lost 3-0 to Costa Rica, ending their hopes of advancing from the Concacaf Championships Group A. They played with 10 men for the final 19 minutes and have lost back-to-back games in the tournament. Costa Rica now leads the group with four points, Jamaica Observer reports.

Anti-Drug coalition program

Costa Rica will implement the U.S.-backed Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America strategy in several districts to address drug risks. The program will start in Oreamuno, Tibás, and Mora and aims to strengthen community safety and prevention efforts. The initiative is expected to extend to the entire country with the support of the U.S. Embassy, The Tico Times reports.

Company relocations

According to the Tire Business , Goodyear is relocating 175 positions from its Akron headquarters to a new location in Costa Rica as part of its Goodyear Forward transformation plan.

The escalating violence reached a tragic peak with the recent assassination of their leader, Mariano Isacama, whose body was discovered over the weekend.

The Indigenous communities have issued a warning in response to this growing threat. They are prepared to take "justice" into their own hands, a clear sign of their determination to protect their people and their ancestral lands.

This declaration comes as a direct response to the relentless threats they face, even as they mourn the loss of their leader.

"But in reality, as soon as we are burying our brother and they are starting to threaten us again, we are unprotected. We want justice to do its job as it should be," says the president of an Indigenous women's community.

“We will not keep silent if justice does not do its job, it will be us with our wise men, with our ancestors to do justice with our own hands. Justice. We are already tired,” she added.

Her words echo the sentiments of many in these communities who feel abandoned and vulnerable in the face of such violence.

“We have our arrows, our spears with which we can patrol with what we do… There is information that comes through them where they say that it is going to be our turn. We are going to be the next victims,” a member of the indigenous community said.

Following a frightening home invasion in 2021 where a young indigenous mother with her infant daughter had been threatened by armed men, the leader of the Shipibo-Konibo community, along the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, enforced a three-month curfew, requiring women and children to sleep in the village hall and men to stand guard at night.

Thailand is moving to reclassify cannabis and hemp as narcotics, allowing their use only for medical purposes. The change is set to take effect in 2025, prompting opposition from cannabis advocacy groups and businesses. Thailand had decriminalised cannabis in 2022, but is now tightening regulations, The Straits Times .

Mobile phone alert system

Thailand will launch a new mobile phone alert system in early 2023 to notify users of emergencies or disasters. The alerts will be sent in five languages and will appear as images and audio, without the need to download an app. According to Bangkok Post , the system is a collaborative project between the government, mobile phone operators, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. It will use cell broadcast technology, similar to systems in Japan and South Korea, to send warnings to all devices connected to mobile networks.

Man goes viral over marriage certificate tattoo

A 37-year-old man from Thailand's Buri Ram province went viral on Facebook after tattooing his marriage certificate on his arm to celebrate 19 years of marriage. The photo quickly gained over a million likes and thousands of comments. The Star reports that the man stated that he did it to express his love and loyalty to his wife, and that he doesn't care what others think as long as it makes his family happy. Some praised him for his bold expression of love, while others expressed concerns about potential future complications.

Thai-China flight surge

Thai-China flights have recorded a 213% increase from October 2023 to May 2024 translating to 55,433 flights. The transport ministry projects that 86,150 flights will operate between the two countries in the fiscal year that ends on September 30, The Phuket News reports.

Aviation fuel use

Thailand's aviation fuel use has increased by 17.9% as tourism rebounds, while car fuel consumption has decreased. Khaosodenglish reports that this is driven by a rise in Jet A1 consumption and a decrease in car petrol, with a corresponding decline in fuel imports.

Saudi Arabia is poised to boost its solar energy capacity by 5,500 megawatts, having inked three pivotal agreements through its main purchasing entity. The agreements, aimed at expanding the use of renewable energy sources, were cemented by the Saudi Power Procurement Co., which secured power purchase contracts for three novel solar photovoltaic initiatives alongside ACWA Power Co., Badeel—owned by the Public Investment Fund—and Aramco Power. According to Arab News , this development is in line with the National Renewable Energy Programme's goal to fulfil the Kingdom's ambition of deriving 50 of its energy from renewable sources by the decade's end, thereby diminishing reliance on liquid fuels and contributing to the Saudi Vision 2030's energy sector goals.

Hajj services praised

India's envoy to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan, has commended the Kingdom for the exceptional services rendered to pilgrims in the current Hajj season. Having participated in the Hajj himself and assisted Indian pilgrims, Khan expressed to Arab News his appreciation for the support provided during the pilgrimage, reports Arab News. “We work closely with the Saudi Health Ministry and other authorities to provide our pilgrims the best medical services. We are thankful for all the cooperation we receive from the Saudi authorities in this regard. Saudi authorities are also deploying huge resources in helping the pilgrims of all nationalities with medical emergencies and other medical issues,” he said.

Saudi pavilion inaugurated

On Wednesday, June 26, Saudi Arabia proudly unveiled its pavilion, taking centre stage as the guest of honour at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair, scheduled for June 26-30, as per the Saudi Press Agency. The event, hosted at the Convention and Exhibition Complex in southern Seoul, marks the 66th iteration of the SIBF and is a tribute to Saudi culture. As reported by Arab News , the Kingdom's pavilion is set to showcase the diverse elements of its cultural legacy. An immersive experience, orchestrated by the Ministry of Culture's Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission and supported by various authorities and commissions, will present the richness of Saudi cultural facets to the attendees.

Efforts to eradicate drug-trafficking

Saudi Arabia has intensified its efforts to eradicate drug use and crack down on the trafficking and funding of illegal drugs. Colonel Omar bin Aida Al-Talhi, Commander of the National Center for Security Operations, stated that the initiative's objective is to "eradicate" drug use and "safeguard society and its younger members from their impact." This declaration was made in alignment with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, established by the UN in 1987 and observed every year on June 26, reports Arab News . World Anti-Drug Day, as the event is commonly known, was “an important day that emphasizes the harm of drugs and their impact on nations, societies and individuals, which requires fighting them in various ways and taking the initiative to report smugglers and dealers,” Al-Talhi said.

Renewable energy project

Saudi Arabia has launched a major geographical survey to identify suitable sites for renewable energy projects across the country. The project is part of the National Renewable Energy Programme and will cover all regions of Saudi Arabia, excluding populated and airspace-restricted areas and dunes. The survey will involve the installation of 1,200 stations to measure solar and wind energy and will use artificial intelligence systems to assess and rank sites for suitability. The aim is to tender new renewables projects with a capacity of 20GW annually starting from 2024, to reach between 100GW and 130GW by 2030. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia revealed the qualified bidders for the fifth round of 3.7GW solar projects under the National Renewable Energy Programme, according to PV Tech .

Under the leadership of incumbent president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, 2024 has been one of the most violent years in the history of Mexico. Dozens of candidates have tragically lost their lives during the lead-up to Mexico's general election.

The most recent bloodshed was the gunning down of a mayoral candidate, Alfredo Cabrera in Guerero on Friday, May 31—just some two days before Sunday's elections.

The latest tragic incident raises the number of candidates who have lost their lives in the 2024 election period to 37. This figure exceeds the total fatalities recorded in the 2021 midterm elections, which stood at 36, according to data from Integralia, a firm specialising in security analysis.

According to a watchdog group, Civic Data, 2023 was the most violent year in Mexico, however, 2024 is taking the crown.

"2023 was the most violent year in our database. And everything suggests that 2024 will be worse," the group said.

These conclude that Mexico's future president's number one job will be to disrupt the works of violence and destruction orchestrated by drug cartels and gangs.

Drug cartel dominance

Gangs and drug cartels happen to run the country, killing and vandalising at the slightest provocation.

In Sunday's elections, which will decide the presidency, nine governorships, and roughly 19,000 local positions, it seems that Mexico's drug cartels and gangs are exerting a greater influence than in previous elections.

In the lead-up to Sunday's elections, there was a noticeable escalation in gang activity, with incidents of shooting at entire campaign gatherings, destruction of ballots, obstruction of polling station establishment, and the display of banners intended to sway voters' decisions.

Julián López, the Citizen Movement party's coordinator in Guerrero, endured a harrowing ordeal when armed assailants kidnapped him and two associates on February 7. The 43-year-old was subjected to physical assault, robbed, forced to kneel by a secluded waste site, and eventually left alone in the dead of night.

According to security expert, David Saucedo, there is a strong possibility of drug gangs attempting to coerce voters into choosing the candidates they endorse, as reported by AP.

“It is reasonable to assume that the cartels will mobilise their support bases during Sunday’s elections,” Saucedo said. “They have loyal voters who they have won over through the distribution of food packages, cash, medicine and infrastructure projects. They will use them to support narco-candidates,” he said.

However, a new dawn seems to be in sight with the tight competition between Claudia Sheinbaum, a former mayor of Mexico City, and Xóchitl Gálvez, also a former mayor of Mexico City's Miguel Hidalgo borough.

Sheinbaum, who focused her campaign on decreasing the homicide rate in Mexico City during her mayoral tenure, may confront significantly more daunting obstacles in replicating this achievement in regions such as Michoacan, where the influence of criminal organisations surpasses anything she faced in the capital.

However, she is unfazed as she promises to lead the country in a way that protects and preserves women and children from violence.

"We're going to make history. I say to the young women, to all the women of Mexico – colleagues, friends, sisters, daughters, mothers and grandmothers – you are not alone," Sheinbaum said during a rally.

Similarly, Xóchitl Gálvez posits that she will be the bravest president ever as she will tackle violence and crime head-on.

"You will have the bravest president, a president who does confront crime," Gálvez added.

The drug, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration , has been reported as an additive in an increasing number of illicit drug mixtures and is accountable for many overdose deaths.

Liberia which has in recent times been battling with the influx of illicit drugs including Kush has launched investigations to find out the origin of the drug which is new on the market.

Executive Director of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Col. Abraham Kromah told local media Global News Network that efforts are being made to trace and arrest traffickers of the drugs in the country.

“Thank God we have a little bit of funding now, to interact with the folks; we are now going on the defensive, we already laid the groundwork on what we intend to do. We now know where and how and who to look for, that’s the good thing about it”, he was quoted.

The non-opiate sedative, analgesic, and muscle relaxant is only authorised in the United States for veterinary use according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but it is widely used globally as a hard drug.

It results in disfiguration in people, and in some cases, may result in amputation, hence its name.

The prescription drug, according to local news platform Nation is usually used by the youth to get ‘high’ because of its affordability.

Mombasa County Commissioner Mahmood Noor indicated that more than 20 suspects have been arrested and investigations are still ongoing.

“We will smoke out all criminals. Some are as young as 16 years old and already engaging in criminal activity. We won’t allow disorder in this country. We have also poured over 30,000 litres of chang’aa and mnazi,” he was quoted by Nation .

According to him, the drugs were being sold to minors between the ages of seven and sixteen. The drug sells at Sh 150 ($10) in local pharmacies.

The operation forms part of government efforts to combat illicit drugs and brews in the country. Some 167 bars in the coastal region were shut as a result of the operation and it will be extended to Likoni and Jomvu areas, Mahmood Noor indicated.

Rophynol is the trade name for the drug flunitrazepam, a central nervous system depressant. According to the U.S. Office of Justice , the drug causes slow psychomotor performance, muscle relaxation, decreased blood pressure, and sleepiness but may have side effects of headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion.

It is usually used in combination with alcohol, and other hard drugs including heroin and marijuana. It is usually snorted, ingested, or injected. 

Nigerian medical professional and health influencer, Dr Olusina Ajidahun, when describing the new drug mix said, “This drug, even though it is called 'kush', is different from the street kush. For now, the big market is in Sierra Leone, even though it has infiltrated some parts of Nigeria, but I cannot really say for some other countries. The components of the kush ... are a mixture of tramadol, fentanyl, and cannabis, and what they do is exhume human corpses, especially the bones; they dry them, grind them into powder, mix them, and smoke.”

Speaking on the health implications of the new mixture on users, Dr Ajidahun said, “Bones are rich in sulphur, which can release some toxic gases, many of which can damage the lungs, brain, and many important organs in the body.  It is not uncommon to say that people who take things like this usually come down with issues like liver problems, kidney problems, and brain problems," he told Global South World.

For a while in Ghana, tramadol abuse ravaged the country’s youth populace. The country’s drug regulatory body was faced with the daunting task of ensuring an end to the abuse of the drug, which was alleged at the time to be smuggled into the country, local media GhanaWeb reported.

In 2019 in Nigeria, there had been an increase in the prevalence of unconventional mixtures, such as combining cough syrup with tramadol. Additionally, some young adults were resorting to primitive concoctions as substitutes, which involved the use of unconventional substances like smoking lizard parts and dung, as well as inhaling glue, petrol, sewage, and urine. This alarming trend includes the illicit distribution and blending of codeine-based cough syrups for drug users, Quartz reported.

In a more disturbing development, the increasing use of scorpions for recreational purposes ravaged parts of South Asia . The resulting "high" is reported to be exceptionally potent, surpassing even the effects of heroin and lasting anywhere from 10 hours to 3 days. However, individuals engaging in this practice often endure the initial six hours in considerable pain as their bodies acclimate to the toxins, posing a potential risk of fatal consequences. 

In the United States, the Council on Foreign Relations reported in 2023 that the country was grappling with its most severe drug crisis, largely fuelled by fentanyl and other opioids, resulting in over 1,500 American deaths per week.

Watch the interview with Dr Olusina Ajidahun below.

Satellite images indicate an emerging tropical disturbance in St Brandon, the Indian Ocean archipelago of sandbanks. According to local media Le Mauricien , the Vacoas meteorological station has warned of a Class I cyclone expected to happen on January 13. The event will likely cause unstable atmospheric conditions in the vicinity. A moderate tropical storm Belal is expected to first move towards the southwest, through the southeast, and then Mauritius by Monday.

Patient caught with hard drugs

A patient admitted to Victoria Hospital in Candos was caught trying to inject drugs into her system while on admission. The patient, 34 years old, who was admitted for a fractured femur was discovered with a syringe with content suspected to be heroin when a nurse at the hospital went to give him a blood transfusion. According to Lexpress.mu , the nurse found that a central line from the previous transfusion was broken and that there was a disposable insulin syringe. It is suspected that the patient tried using the transfusion line to inject the drugs. Police will interrogate the patient after the doctor’s authorisation.

  Arrests for money laundering

Money laundering suspect, Jean Hubert Celèrine popularly referred to as Franklin will be extradited to Reunion Island, Le Mauricien reports. Franklin was arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in February 2023 for engaging in money laundering and drug trafficking. He was sentenced by Reunion authorities to seven years in prison. Magistrate Shavina Jugnauth’s judgment in Port-Louis authorised Franklin’s extradition.

Murder in prison

Local news outlet Sunday Times reported that an inmate at the Vallée-Pitot police station in the Port-Louis District died on January 10, 2024, while in police custody. The deceased is said to have been attacked by another inmate before a police officer could intervene. He was rushed to the Jeetoo Hospital where he was given medication after undergoing an X-ray scan. The suspect was however found unconscious that evening in his cell and was pronounced dead upon his arrival at the hospital.

Price hikes

There are price hikes on the sale of vegetables at the Port-Louis market. The majority of vegetables including candy apples have exceeded the 40 Rupee mark. According to local news outlet defimedia.info , the prices are the consequences of recent torrential rains in the area.