Venezuela Seeks UN Security Council Meeting Over U.S. Oil Tanker Blockade 
UN Warns Gaza Humanitarian Aid at Risk as Israel Registration Rules Threaten NGO Operations 
Trump Administration Reviews Nvidia H200 Chip Sales to China, Marking Major Shift in U.S. AI Export Policy 
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies 
Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
Putin Signals Possible Peace or Continued War in Ukraine at Major Year-End Address 
Syria, Kurds and U.S. Race to Show Progress on SDF Integration Deal 
Republicans Raise National Security Concerns Over Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools 
Trump Signals Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of U.S.–Russia Meeting 
Kennedy Center Reportedly Renamed Trump-Kennedy Center After Board Vote 
Italy Supreme Court Upholds Salvini Acquittal in Migrant Kidnapping Case 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Barham Salih Elected as Next UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
U.S.-Russia Talks in Miami Raise Hopes for Potential Ukraine War Deal 
Trump Administration Plans Major Increase in Denaturalization Cases for Naturalized U.S. Citizens 
Trump Administration Proposes Sweeping Limits on Gender-Affirming Care for Children 
Myanmar has been in a state of unrest for nearly two years since the generals seized power in a coup that overthrew the elected government. A report found that opium cultivation in the country increased under the junta government.
A report by the United Nations on Thursday found that in 2022, opium cultivation in Myanmar increased by 33 percent under the junta, reversing the six-year decline. The increase was directly attributed to the political and economic unrest in the country since the coup, according to an official from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
“Economic, security, and governance disruptions that followed the military takeover of February 2021 have converged, and farmers in remote, often conflict-prone areas…have had little option but to move back to opium,” said UNODC regional representative Jeremy Douglas.
“Without alternatives and economic stability, it is likely that opium cultivation and production will continue to expand,” said UNODC Myanmar country manager Benedict Hofmann.
The report said the cultivated area in 2022 expanded up to 40,100 hectares as the average estimated yield went up 41 percent to nearly 20 kilograms per hectare. This marked the highest value since the UN agency started to keep records in 2002. Myanmar’s eastern Shan state saw the biggest cultivation at 39 percent.
The report also noted that the value of opium that is produced in Myanmar could go up to $2 billion annually, with the drug getting smuggled out to neighboring countries and reaching the global market.
A group of Myanmar activists and 16 alleged victims of abuse filed a criminal complaint in Germany against the military in another international effort to hold the Myanmar military accountable. The complaint accused the Myanmar generals of inciting genocide against the Rohingya Muslims, as well as the atrocities committed against civilians and those who opposed the coup.
The rights group backing the complaint, Fortify Rights, said Germany was picked because of its recognition of the principle of “universal jurisdiction,” meaning that individuals accused of international crimes could be tried by a national court. The group hopes that German authorities take up the complaint and launch an investigation into the matter.
