Today's headlines:Rise of Taliban heavily impacts news from Afghanistan; 82% of female journalists have lost their jobs; Beijing sends aid for typhoon victims in the Philippines; Turkish citizens' distrust of the country's economic prospects grows; Pyongyang commemorates 10 years since Kim Jong-il's death.
JAPAN
Japan executed three people this morning. These are the first executions since December 2019 and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's taking over government leadership in October. The authorities have not revealed their identities. There are currently more than 100 inmates on death row, while public support for capital punishment remains high despite international criticism.
AFGHANISTAN
The impact of the Taliban on information in Afghanistan has been "dramatic", as denounced by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) experts. More than four out of ten media outlets have disappeared (from 543 at the beginning of the summer to 312) and 60% of journalists and employees of newspapers and TV stations are no longer able to work. Women have suffered far more than men: 84% of them have lost their jobs.
CHINA - PHILIPPINES
The Chinese government today began distributing basic necessities for thousands of victims of Typhoon Rai in the Philippines. The updated, but still provisional, toll is at least 375 dead and 56 missing. Ambassador Huang Xilian said that "our hearts are with all the affected families." Collected 20 thousand food parcels containing 5 kg of rice, 10 boxes of food and noodles.
MALAYSIA
At least 14 people have died and tens of thousands have been displaced by one of the worst floods in decades in Malaysia. Three days of massive torrential rains over the past weekend caused severe flooding in eight states, partially submerging towns and villages. The government has come under fierce criticism for its delayed and inadequate response to the emergency.
TURKEY
82% of Turkish citizens say their purchasing power has declined. A survey by NG Research shows that 7 out of 10 people believe that the economy is set to worsen for the next few years. 94% are of the opinion that rising exchange rates will negatively affect future prospects. Among the factors behind the crisis is the Covid-19 pandemic.
RUSSIA
A group of Russian parliamentarians has presented a bill to the Duma that would only allow access to surrogacy services for citizens of the Russian Federation. Vice-presidents Petr Tolstoy and Anna Kuznetsova, initiators of the proposal, intend to defend the Russian nationality from dispersion caused by foreign interference.
NORTH KOREA
Pyongyang has imposed a ban on laughing, drinking and shopping on all North Korean citizens for 11 days to coincide with the mourning period that began Dec. 17 for the 10-year anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il, the former leader and father of Kim Jong-Un. During that period, people cannot even celebrate their birthdays. Those who break the rules face arrest.
GEORGIA
The political appeasement initiative attempted by Georgia's president, Salome Zurabishvili, and blessed by the Orthodox Katolikos Ilya II, has been challenged by the opposition led by the National Movement of former president Mikhail Saakashvili. The latter summoned in the Gori prison hospital where he is detained the leaders of the party to decide the anti-government line.