ASIA TODAY European Parliament called on Hong Kong to release Jimmy Lai and repeal the liberticide law

Today’s news: Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles, an “inevitable” response to the US-South Korea drills. Tehran denies Hajj permission to an Iranian Sunni leader critical of the crackdown on protests. Taliban officials attend a peace forum in Norway. Indonesian students with special needs suffer severe deficiencies in the education system. Japan studies limiting access to Mount Fuji. New tobacco law in Russia.

HONG KONG – EU

The European Parliament approved by an overwhelming majority (483 votes in favor of 534 total) a resolution Calling on the Hong Kong government to “immediately and unconditionally” release 75-year-old publishing magnate Jimmy Lai. He faces a life sentence under the infamous Beijing-sponsored National Security Law, which the EU is demanding to repeal. The Chinese reply was immediate and spoke of act “negligible“.

IRAN – SAUDI ARABIA

Tehran denied Iran’s Sunni leader permission to leave the country molavi abdulhamid, who had to participate in the Hajj, the great pilgrimage to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia). The 76-year-old cleric, originally from Sistan and Balochistan, stood out as a critical and dissenting voice against the violent crackdown on rights protests after the death of Mahsa Amini.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea Shooting yesterday two short-range ballistic missiles off the east coast and fell within Japan’s exclusive economic zone. According to the Seoul military, the rockets were fired less than an hour after Pyongyang warned that a response to joint US-South Korean exercises in the area was “inevitable”.

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Taliban government officials traveled to Norway this week to meet with civil society representatives and diplomats at a peace forum. They also attended for the first time representatives from India and Pakistan. The country is facing a serious humanitarian crisis after 20 years of war and reduced aid shipments. There is no progress in favor of the reopening of female education.

INDONESIA

Indonesian students with special needs they face a serious shortage of schools, teachers and facilities adapted to their pathologies. The more than 2,300 special education centers are not enough for the approximately 23 million diagnosed with a disability. The advances of the authorities are too slow to meet their needs.

JAPAN

The increase in demand for shelters to rest in the Mount Fuji has prompted authorities to call for measures to counter the influx, including possible entry restrictions during the summer climbing season. In 2023, in fact, “unprecedented” numbers of people will brave the steep slopes, raising questions about safety and sustainability.

RUSSIA

A new law to regulate the tobacco market will enter into force in autumn. In the last 15 years -especially after the restrictions introduced by then-President Medvedev-, the sector has experienced an exponential growth in cigarette smuggling, with some 1,500 million black packs each year, with losses of more than 100,000. million rubles (1,000 million euros).

KAZAKHSTAN

Astana Economy Minister Alibek Kuantyrov reported that a “luxury tax” will be introduced in Kazakhstan starting next year for those who own multiple properties, luxury or high-powered cars and other high-end items. The regulation modifies the already existing tax proportions and it is believed that it will contribute to plug holes in the State budget.