ASIA TODAY Israelis take to the streets against judicial reform. First vote in the Knesset

Other news today: Appeal by relatives and activists in Bangkok against the deportation of Cambodian opposition member Thol Samnang. The suicide of a young artist raises the problem of depression in Hong Kong and China. Green light from Erdogan for Sweden to join NATO. At least 29 killed by monsoon rains in northern India. Centuries-old temples in Japan endangered by decay and vandalism. Moscow propaganda again denounces the presence of biolabs in Ukraine with the help of the US.

ISRAEL

Injuries, arrests, water cannons and policemen in riot gear to stop the demonstrations promoted this morning by the opponents -reservists, magistrates and civil society- to the controversial justice reform, who have called for a “Blockade Day”. The Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway was cut off. Yesterday the Knesset approved in first reading a regulation that limits some powers of the Supreme Court, beginning the parliamentary process.

CAMBODIA – THAILAND

the mother of Cambodian activist Thol Samnang, of the Candlelight Party, calls on the Thai authorities to prevent the deportation of his son, who is in danger of being persecuted and arrested. Hun Sen has been waging a tough campaign against political opponents in Phnom Penh for some time. Men in civilian clothes detained him a few days ago on the streets of Bangkok as he was on his way to UNHCR headquarters.

Türkiye – SWEDEN

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given Green light for Sweden to enter to NATO, the Atlantic alliance. Secretary Jens Stoltenberg announced the decision after meeting the leaders of Ankara and Stockholm at the Lithuania summit, overcoming criticism of Scandinavian aid to the Kurds. In return, Sweden will support efforts to boost Turkey’s accession process to the EU.

HONG KONG – CHINA

The death of the Hong Kong singer and Disney voice actress in the movie “Mulan” Coco Lee, who committed suicide on July 5, has reconsidered the depression theme in the city and throughout mainland China, where one in four young people suffers from mental disorders or problems. Given the scarcity of specialists, pathology is not just a personal matter, but rather implies a collective trauma.

INDIA

the continua monsoon rains in the north they have already caused the death of 29 people, destroyed bridges, blocked roads and left several areas cut off. Flash floods and landslides have swept away cars and toppled buildings in Himachal Pradesh, the worst affected region. The India Meteorological Department has forecast more rain in much of the north for the next few days.

JAPAN

The centuries-old temples of Japan visited by millions of people each year, seem to be succumbing to decay and vandalism from tourists. Nara prefectural police questioned a Canadian teenager who had graffitied a pillar at the UNESCO-listed Toshodaiji temple. The sanctuaries, castles and temples must be periodically subjected to restoration or repair works.

RUSSIA – UKRAINE

Since the beginning of the war, Moscow propaganda has talked about Ukrainian biological laboratories organized with the help of the United States. General Igor Kirillov again launched accusations about viruses spread by migratory flying animals, but there is also talk of combat mosquitoes. Russia’s representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that there are locusts destroying crops in the occupied Lugansk region and in Russia.

UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has easily won early elections for the supreme office, garnering 87% of the vote out of nearly 80% turnout at polling stations. With the new Constitution, his previous terms are not counted, and he can now legitimately be included in the caste of “eternal presidents” of the region.