Kashmir, life imprisonment for separatist leader Yasin Malik

Today's headlines:Health chief fired as Covid cases rise in Beijing; a series of explosions hit Afghanistan, at least 16 killed; Aung San Suu Kyi's family lodge a complaint to the UN against junta imposed detention; in Kazakhstan the quarantine-related "baby-boom" continues. 

INDIA

An Indian court sentenced Yasin Malik, one of the prominent leaders of separatism in Kashmir, to life in prison. The judges found him guilty of participating in and supporting "terrorist activities" and involvement in "criminally motivated conspiracy." He responded to the reading of the verdict by recalling that he left the armed struggle back in the 1990s. 

TURKEY

The Turkish military "neutralized" eight elements across the border in Syria and Iraq who were considered "terrorists." The first operation in Kurdistan with the use of artillery and resulted in the death of three Pkk elements. The second in Syrian territory, five killed. Erdogan announced a large operation in Syria, which Damascus considers a "war crime and against humanity." 

CHINA

Beijing has ousted the health chief in the capital, where there is an increase in Covid-19 cases in spite of the zero-tolerance policy and restrictions imposed some time ago. The Omicron variant has caused hundreds of infections, millions must work from home, and transportation is largely suspended. Thousands have been forcibly transferred to quarantine centers. 

AFGHANISTAN

A series of explosions rocked Afghanistan yesterday, killing at least 16 people. Attacked the Hazrat Zakaria mosque in Kabul where five people died, several injured. In the north in Mazar-e-Sharif three minivans were hit by a local cell of the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis); the victims were all members of the Shiite minority. Still unknown is the matrix of the attack in the capital. 

MYANMAR

Family members of Aung San Suu Kyi are set to file a complaint with the United Nations against the detention imposed by the coup junta in Myanmar. The 76-year-old Burmese democracy icon is in military custody and faces up to 150 years in prison. Her lawyers speak of "seizure at the hands of the judiciary" and announce appeal to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. 

RUSSIA

The Russian fleet in the Caspian Sea staged a mutiny to avoid being sent to Ukraine. Ships stationed in the area are beginning to lack spare parts, which are being replaced with parts from China. This is causing sailors to refuse, even more than criticism of the military operation against Kiev.

KAZAKHSTAN

The "quarantine baby-boom" continues in Kazakhstan, with strong growth in births in the two pandemic years: 427,000 in 2020 and 447,000 in 2021, +4.6 percent and +11 percent, respectively, over 2019. In the first three months of 2022, nearly 100 thousand Kazakh babies were born.

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