The rising global demand for donkey skin, primarily for the traditional Chinese medicine ejiao, has led to an alarming increase in donkey theft and a severe livelihood crisis in Kenya and other parts of Africa, as reported by The Donkey Sanctuary.

• 5.9 million donkeys are estimated to be slaughtered annually due to the trade.
• Marianne Steele, CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary, highlighted the trade's risks to community well-being and economic stability.
• The theft of donkeys can reduce household incomes by as much as 73 percent, pushing families into financial distress.

Thailand is implementing new regulations on its marijuana market, requiring prescriptions for consumption and criminalizing use, in response to rising cannabis smuggling to the UK.

• 11,000 registered cannabis dispensaries have proliferated since decriminalization in 2022.
• Beki Wright, spokesperson for the National Crime Agency, reported a rise from 142 to 800 intercepted couriers smuggling cannabis from Thailand to the UK within a year.
• The proposed regulations aim to restore a focus on medical marijuana use, but face opposition from local producers who fear it may harm their businesses.