UN warning of Taliban actions and impending humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan

The Taliban are increasingly under scrutiny over their promises of a different governance. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following UN warning of Taliban actions and impending humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan [A woman enters a beauty salon in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 11, 2021. Since the Taliban gained control of Kabul, several images depicting women outside beauty salons have been removed or covered up.] Credit: Bernat Armangue/AP Afghanistan The Taliban are increasingly under scrutiny over their promises of a different governance as the head of the United Nations Human Rights Council [on Monday warned]( of a “new and perilous phase” for Afghanistan. Michelle Bachelet cited “multiple” allegations of the Taliban searching out Afghans who worked for the US and NATO and criticized the militant group for a disconnect between their words and actions on women’s rights and reprisal killings. Bachelet’s comments [follow other leaders]( in the West criticizing the Taliban’s actions. Meanwhile, the UN is holding a conference in Geneva seeking to [stave off an escalating humanitarian crisis]( in Afghanistan by raising $600 million in aid. North Korea North Korean officials said the country had successfully tested long-range cruise missiles over the weekend. While not a violation of UN sanctions, the tests raise concerns for neighboring countries and US allies [over a potential arms race](. The missile tests come as the Biden administration’s envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, [is set to meet]( with South Korean and Japanese officials in Tokyo on Tuesday. Peru Peruvian officials are debating what to do with the body of Abimael Guzmán, the leader of the brutal Shining Path insurgency [who died on Saturday, at 86](. Guzmán was captured in 1992 and was serving a life sentence in prison for [terrorism and other bloody crimes]( connected to the killing and disappearance of nearly 70,000 people during the Shining Path conflict. Under Peru’s laws, his body should go to his wife, Elena Iparraguirre. But Iparraguirre is also in prison and the Peruvian government has raised concerns that Guzmán’s gravesite could become a rallying point for extremists. A decision over his final resting place is [expected later on Monday](. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Taliban’s 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan' is based on specific ideology]( [A Taliban fighter lays his AK-47 rifle down during Friday prayers at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 10, 2021.]( Credit: Felipe Dana/AP The Taliban have announced a new interim government. Islam is the key pillar of the group's vision, but [which interpretation of Islam will guide their governance](? Even before the Taliban takeover this past August, Afghanistan was an Islamic country. The official name of Afghanistan included "Islamic Republic." But the Taliban follow a specific interpretation of Sunni Islam which will be implemented across the country. [With rising overdoses, British Columbia expands experimental prescription initiative]( [A fire medic holds a box containing naloxone hydrochloride which is carried in all their department's emergency response vehicles, in Akron, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2019.]( Credit: Keith Srakocic/AP/File photo The Canadian province of British Columbia was already years into a public health emergency when COVID-19 arrived: deadly drug overdoses. A main driver has been the quality of street drugs, which increasingly contain even more potent opioid analogs, like fentanyl, or other substances, like animal tranquilizers. British Columbia's [strategy to combat overdosing]( includes expanded treatment and making the overdose-reversing drug naloxone widely available. --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright Spot Think Paris. Think Arc de Triomphe. Now think of art by late artist Christo and his signature art. It was a dream of his to drape the iconic Paris landmark for an outdoor art exhibit. That dream [became reality]( this past weekend with 270,00 square feet of silver and blue sheet of recyclable fabric unfurled from the top of the war memorial. [A screenshoot of Twitter AFP Photo]( Credit: Twitter --------------------------------------------------------------- In case you missed it from The World --------------------------------------------------------------- - [Upside-down rhinos chewing gum on pavement win 2021 IG Nobel prizes]( - [Afghan musician Quraishi]( - [Tiananmen museum raided]( - [German play recounts trial of neo-Nazi murders at Nuremberg]( - [Russia and Belarus edge toward further integration]( - [Women’s US Open final set for Saturday]( - [Al-Qaeda in Africa]( - [Obama foreign policy adviser Ben Rhodes reflects on 9/11 and US mission in Afghanistan]( - [Which interpretation of Islam does the Taliban envision for Afghanistan?]( Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. 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