I did not name a single religious organisation in my speech, nor did I use a single religious book, and did not name a single religious figure apart from Christ and Buddha,? he said. A yoga teacher in Russia has been charged with illegal missionary activity under a controversial new law designed to fight terrorism. According to the law?s definition of missionary activity, it is necessary for the person conducting missionary activity to call for [people] to join some religious group,? he said. In August, a follower of Hare Krishna in southern Russia was charged with illegal missionary activity for telling passersby on the street about his beliefs and handing out literature. His comments won him fans described as ?Medvedev?s Girls?, who performed exercises on Red Square to promote yoga.

?Facebook Twitter Pinterest Zurad Japaridze interviewed by reporters after the police operation at his party?s offices. Until recently, anyone caught with cannabis twice in 12 months in Georgia faced up to 14 years behind bars. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Police take away cannabis plants from Girchi?s offices during a drugs bust. Photograph: Nelson GeorgeDespite the court ruling Girchi still faces stiff opposition, not only from the ruling centre-left Georgian Dream coalition, which vehemently contests liberal ideas, but also the Orthodox church. Photograph: Nelson GeorgeJaparidze argues that smoking cannabis is not only a human right, it?s also an answer to his homeland?s financial woes ? in the final quarter of 2016 the economy grew by just 2.3%.

Renzi, leader of the centre-left Democratic party, is also keen for an early election in which he may perform better than the ballot scheduled for Spring 2018. ?The consensus among political players is to have an election in spring 2018; there is no appetite for an early vote other than from Renzi,? he said. Italy?s highest court has opened the way for early elections in 2017 after favouring a form of proportional representation in a ruling that could bolster former prime minister Matteo Renzi?s chances of making a comeback. He said the referendum defeat hurt, but stressed that the blog was a way to ?walk towards the future?. The law had been a cornerstone of Renzi?s broader reform plan and one he hoped would end decades of political instability.

Russian MPs have backed a controversial bill reducing the punishment for some forms of domestic violence in a crucial second reading, despite protests from rights groups. Fury at Russian move to soften domestic violence law Read moreThe bill?s authors say the new measure removes a legal anomaly and will reduce domestic violence by giving first-time abusers a chance to reform. Conservative backers of the bill have nicknamed it the ?law on slaps? and complain that domestic violence is punished harshly. Last week Amnesty International appealed to Russia?s parliament not to pass the bill, condemning it as a ?sickening attempt to trivialise domestic violence?. But lawyer Maxim Krupsky told RBK news site that ?decriminalisation could untie the hands of people who potentially could commit domestic violence?.

In the past, Mr. Putin has expressed concern about domestic violence, even in the absence of serious injury. Ms. Aivazova asked Mr. Putin to support a special law on the prevention of domestic violence that had already been passed in 143 countries, including Russia?s post-Soviet neighbors Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. ?This shows that Duma deputies are not simply conservative or traditional, it shows that they are archaic.?Ms. Aivazova and other experts say that Russia has a serious problem with domestic violence. Mr. Putin thanked her, but the law remained in the State Duma, and Ms. Aivazova said she was not optimistic about its prospects. If Mr. Putin signs the measure into law, only injuries like concussions or broken bones, or repeated offenses committed in a family setting, would lead to criminal charges.

Yet to speak about compliance or violation of the AML, as the antimonopoly law is sometimes called, mischaracterizes the situation. In the other case?the far more significant of the two?Apple is seeking 1 billion yuan ($145.3 million) for violations of China?s Anti-Monopoly Law. Whatever the merits of the anti-monopoly case?and I am expressing no view on merits here?an Apple win will almost certainly undermine U.S. national security. The issue is whether Qualcomm, the world?s leader in chips for mobile phones, violated the Anti-Monopoly Law. As an initial matter, Apple vs. Qualcomm is an ordinary dispute between two giants over?what else??money.