Iran, Afghanistan, Zambia.

Today's three stories you should know.

Dec 12, 2022

Iran

Iran has put a second person to death in connection with the protests that have rocked the country since mid-September. In a grisly spectacle, 23-year-old Majidreza Rahnavard was executed in public as a crowd watched on. The Mizan news agency, which is run by the country’s judiciary, published gruesome images of Rahnavard hanging by his neck from a crane. The public nature of the execution and the publication of the images are presumably intended to be a warning to protesters. Rights group say demonstrators are being sentenced to death in sham trials.

Afghanistan

Three gunmen today stormed a hotel popular with foreigners in the Afghan capital Kabul, opening fire on guests before they were killed by security forces. Witnesses said they heard blasts inside the hotel and footage shared on social media showed smoke billowing from its windows. The Kabul Longan Hotel is particular popular with Chinese nationals and, while no foreigners were killed, two were reported injured after jumping from balconies to escape. No group has yet claimed responsibility but the ISIL affiliate in Afghanistan, ISIS-K, has launched several attacks since its enemies in the Taliban came to power in August of last year.

Zambia

Ethiopia says it is sending investigators to Zambia after the bodies of 27 men were found dumped by a roadside. Police said they believed the men to be Ethiopian nationals aged between 20 and 38, who likely suffocated to death in the back of a truck on their way to South Africa. A survivor was found gasping for air and was taken to hospital. Police said they would now step up checks at the border. According to the UN, 12,000 migrants have been reported missing across Africa since 2014.