Sharia-inspired punishments are back in Kabul (including amputations and stonings)

Today's headlines: Hong Kong opens investigation into the broadcasting of pro-democracy anthem during an official rugby match; Pyongyang returns to practice of exploiting young 'volunteers' in mines or farms; Indonesia signs a pact with Brazil and Congo on deforestation; Netanyahu starts consultations to form a new government; the first 'confessional' military company is born in Russia. 

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada ordered Afghan judges to impose sharia-inspired punishments for certain crimes, such as public amputations and stonings. Some crimes including theft, kidnapping and riots, the spokesman explains, are to be punished according to Islamic law in the most radical view, as was the case in the 1990s when executions were carried out in the streets.

HONG KONG - CHINA

The police are investigating the broadcasting of the anthem 'Glory to Hong Kong', symbol of the 2019 democratic protests, in place of the Chinese anthem during a rugby match held in Incheon, South Korea between the local team and the Hong Kong representative team (ended 19-12 for HK). The incident raised comments and criticism online, and the ire of Beijing. Asia Rugby, based in the former colony, apologised for the 'incident'. 

NORTH KOREA

In the last two years Pyongyang has resumed exploiting young 'volunteers' for hard labour in mines or farms, sparing the children of the elites. According to propaganda, legions of youngsters work for free and happily, expressing their love for the country and Kim Jong-un. In reality the young people, orphaned or very poor, are victims of forced labour and exploited to support an economy in perpetual crisis. 

INDONESIA

Indonesia, Brazil and Congo, the three most important rainforest countries in the world, yesterday signed a pact on deforestation, with the common goal of protecting and preserving the environment. The three nations will receive compensation from the international community for reducing deforestation, focusing on common issues such as climate finance and carbon pricing. 

ISRAEL

After receiving the mandate from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday started consultations with coalition partners to form the new government. He has four weeks - plus two more - to define the future executive and the various ministries of a majority increasingly tilted towards the radical right. 

RUSSIA

In Russia, the first private 'confessional' military company called the 'St. Andrew's Cross' has been officially established, which has already been informally active since 2017 at St. Nicholas a Mare Orthodox Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Its members will mainly deal with the 'special training' of mobilised men to be sent to the Ukrainian front.

GEORGIA

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said in an interview with Radio France that more than 700,000 Russians had arrived in the Caucasian country after the mobilisation notice. Of these, about 100 thousand have stayed on the territory, the others have headed to third countries. There are also 30 thousand Ukrainian refugees in Georgia.

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