Afghanistan’s central bank, Da Afghanistan Bank, has approved a new law on exchange and monetary services, which could affect dozens of small money-changing businesses across the country.

The new Exchange and Money Services Law stipulates that no one can provide money services, which include Hawala - an informal money transfer system, without a license.

According to a statement issued by the central bank, businesses that are licensed will benefit from more facilities and action will be taken against illegal businesses.

This is the latest step by the Islamic Emirate to bring banking and money-related laws in line with Sharia in the country.

Two years ago, the central bank banned online foreign exchange trading, declaring it “illegal” in Islam and warned that anyone engaging in it would face prosecution.

Also in 2022, the central bank banned cryptocurrency trading - also on the grounds of it being sinful.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Berlin will continue to deport Afghan nationals who have committed crimes in Germany.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the European Union Leaders’ summit in Brussels, Scholz said that a large number of Afghan criminals have already been deported to their country.

"We had a large number of Afghan criminals whom we deported to Afghanistan. It has been complicated, but we were able to do it, and such returns will happen again. Criminals will be returned to Afghanistan."

In late August, Germany deported 28 Afghan nationals charged with criminal acts, in the first such move since the Islamic Emirate returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the rise of “Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment” in Europe during a meeting with Scholz in Istanbul.

He expressed concerns that this trend is being fueled by far-right movements, raising worries among immigrants.

Erdogan urged the German chancellor to continue his “unifying stance” against Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment in Germany.

The Ministry of Energy and Water says that efforts to solve Bamiyan’s electricity problem have increased and issues are being addressed.

The ministry also announced that Abdul Latif Mansour, acting minister, along with Zhao Sheng, the Chinese ambassador to Kabul, have traveled to Bamiyan for this purpose and visited the province’s solar power project with the governor of Bamiyan.

The Ministry of Energy and Water added that the preliminary studies of this project have been completed and now the solar power project is scheduled to be implemented in Bamiyan with the help of China.

The Bamiyan solar power generation project will have the capacity to produce 20 megawatts of electricity, and once operational a large part of the needs of the people of Bamiyan will be met.

Meanwhile, the governor of Bamiyan stated that the people of Bamiyan are in dire need of electricity, so it is expected that the work of this project will start as soon as possible.

On the other hand, the Chinese ambassador assured officials that China will be committed to the implementation of this project.