Afghanistan, Taliban ban narcotics cultivation

In today's headlines: Jordan's King Abdullah's younger half-brother relinquishes royal title; An 81-year-old Tibetan sets himself on fire in protest against the Chinese regime; Presidential candidates in the Philippines attack Beijing; Han Duck-soo will be South Korea's new premier; Russian elites press Putin to end war with Ukraine.

AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban government yesterday  announced a ban on the cultivation of narcotics, including the opium poppy, of which it is the world's leading producer. The ban is one of the main demands of the international community to provide assistance to the Islamist regime. Prohibited also the production, transport and use of drugs.

JORDAN

King Abdullah's younger half-brother, Prince Hamza bin Hussein, has renounced his royal title. He explained the move by saying his personal beliefs are not in line with "modern methods" of Jordanian institutions. Hamza ended up under arrest last year after accusing the country's leaders of corruption, incompetence and persecution.

CHINA

An 81-year-old Tibetan man died after setting himself on fire in a police station in Sichuan province. Identified as Taphun, he was protesting the Chinese government's crackdown on the Tibetan community in Tibet, Sichuan and Qinghai. The incident took place on March 27, but did not emerge until the weekend. It is the 160th such case since 2009.

PHILIPPINES-CHINA

All of the candidates in the May 9 presidential election, except favorite Ferdinand Marcos Jr, yesterday called for a tougher stance on China over disputed territories in the South China Sea. Vice President Leni Robredo is calling for a united Asean stance to finally establish a code of conduct for shipping in the region.

SOUTH KOREA

Han Duck-soo is President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's choice for prime minister. An expert in economics and business, Han previously served as premier in 2007-2008 during the Roh Moo-hyun presidency. The new executive will take office next month.

HOLY LAND-UKRAINE

Letters from representatives of the Ukrainian people to the Most High, inserted between the cracks of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, increased dramatically in March. Ukraine rose to 14th place in the ranking of prayers in the holy city, surpassing Americans and British. The Wall letter is the most effective prayer according to Jewish tradition.

RUSSIA

An advisor to the Interior Minister, Vadim Denisenko, spoke on Russian TV channel 24, revealing that pressure on Putin to end military operations is increasing among the Russian elite. That is why "he is isolating himself more and more, he does not like to be pressured", and insists on gas payments in rubles, "which lead to war with the whole world".

• AsiaToday