ASIA TODAY Protests against the burning of the Koran continue in Baghdad. Extraordinary meeting of the OIC

Other news of the day: Hong Kong’s chief executive celebrated 26 years since the return to China and attacked the (democratic) forces that oppose the rise of Beijing. After the Taliban, locusts have become another ‘time bomb’ for Afghanistan’s agriculture and economy. The UN considers that the restrictions on the necessary goods for the survival that the military junta has imposed in Myanmar are “war crimes”. Beijing could reach its goals in terms of renewable energy five years ahead of schedule. Pyongyang is determined to punish those who use the language of the South with jail.

IRAQ – SWEDEN

Second day of protests yesterday in various cities in Iraq against the burning of the quran carried out by an expatriate in Stockholm, following the attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on June 29. Thousands of people took to the streets, mainly supporters of the radical Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr, who describes as “incitement to hatred” the gesture made by Salwan Momika, 37, and tolerated by the authorities. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has convened for tomorrow a Extraordinary meeting in Jeddah.

HONG KONG

In celebration of 26th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong China under the “one country, two systems” policy that ended British colonialism, Chief Executive John Lee attacked “destructive forces” promoting “soft resistance.” He is referring to the democracy movement, whose activism has been all but wiped out by the controversial National Security Law. Hong Kong is “largely stable,” he added, but he warned against countries “opposing” Beijing’s rise.

AFGHANISTAN

In the aftermath of the Taliban, Afghanistan and its impoverished people are threatened by a locust invasion, which experts call a “clockmaking bomb” for agriculture (and the economy). For the first time in 20 years, the sleeves, famous for their voracious appetite, arrived in the north in March to lay billions of eggs. 1.2 million tons of wheat, a quarter of the total crop.

CHINA

China will achieve its targets on renewable energy five years ahead of schedule and experts are calling on Beijing to review its continued reliance on coal and step up its efforts to protect the environment. The policies adopted will make it possible to double the capacity in solar and wind energy, and exceed the ambitious goal of 1,200 gigawatts by 2030.

MYANMAR – UN

The restrictions and lockdowns imposed by the coup junta on aid to save lives and respond to basic needs are increasing and could constitute “war crimes”, such as degrading treatment, starvation and collective punishment. The complaint is part of a UN report on human rights that accuses the military and its “control system.” It is stated that it is necessary to adopt “urgent measures” to protect the fundamental rights of individuals.

KOREA

Pyongyang has intensified its repressive policy against the use of “puppet” language (the Korean spoken in Seoul) and punishes anyone caught in the North using the slang or vocabulary of the South. Measures taken against offenders include forced labor in prison camps and, in extreme cases, the death penalty under the Language and Culture Protection Law.

RUSSIA

The spokesman of the Moscow Patriarchate, Vladimir Legojda, publicly supported the proposal of the Association of Manufacturers of Children’s Goods and Toys to eliminate “representatives of Western mass culture” such as Spider-Man, Batman and Captain America. In his place, the greats of Russian history would be sold, such as General Suvorov or the writer Dostoevsky.

TURKMENISTAN

The government meeting in Ashgabat, convened by President Berdymuhamedov, was dedicated to “two reasons for celebration”: the inauguration of the new Arkadag Smart-City and the publication of former President Gurbangul’s new book, “The Meaning of My Life. Continuation”. The honoree did not attend the ceremonies because he was making a pilgrimage to Mecca.