EU parliament to Hong Kong: free Jimmy Lai and cancel liberticidal law

Today's headlines: Pyongyang fires two short-range ballistic missiles, "inevitable" response to exercises between South Korea and the US; Tehran denies Hajj permit to Iranian Sunni leader critical of protest crackdown; Taliban officials in Norway to attend peace forum; Indonesian special needs students victimized by serious deficiencies in education system; Japan studies limits on access to Mt. Fuji; New tobacco law in Russia.

HONG KONG - EU
The European Parliament has overwhelmingly (483 votes to 534) adopted a resolution calling on the Hong Kong government to release 75-year-old publishing magnate Jimmy Lai "immediately and unconditionally." He faces life imprisonment under the notorious National Security Law sought by Beijing, which the EU is calling for to be scrapped. Immediate Chinese retort, which speaks of a "despicable" act. 

IRAN - SAUDI ARABIA
Tehran has denied expatriation permission to Iranian Sunni leader Molavi Abdulhamid, who was to participate in the Hajj, the major pilgrimage to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia). The 76-year-old cleric, originally from Sistan and Baluchistan, has distinguished himself as a critical voice of dissent against the violent crackdown on pro-rights protests since the death of Mahsa Amini.

NORTH KOREA
North Korea yesterday fired two short-range ballistic missiles off the East Coast and landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone. According to Seoul's military, the rockets were fired less than an hour after Pyongyang warned that a response to exercises conducted by South Korea along with the United States 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. Also present for the first time were representatives from India and Pakistan. The country is facing a major humanitarian crisis after 20 years of war and a slump in aid. There is no progress on reopening to women's education. 

INDONESIA
Indonesian students with special needs are grappling with a severe shortage of schools, teachers and facilities appropriate for their conditions, which require assistance. The more than 2,300 special education institutions are insufficient for the estimated 23 million diagnosed with a disability. From the authorities come progress that is too slow in the face of need. 

JAPAN
A surge in demand for rest cabins on Mount Fuji has prompted authorities to call for counter measures on attendance, including possible restrictions on entry during the favorable climbing season in summer. Indeed, in 2023 an "unprecedented" number of people would like to tackle the rapid slopes, raising questions about safety and sustainability. 

RUSSIA
A new law to regulate the tobacco market will go into effect this fall. Over the past 15 years-particularly after restrictions introduced by then-President Medvedev-the sector has seen exponential growth in smuggled cigarettes, with about 1.5 billion packets being smuggled in each year, resulting in a loss of more than 100 billion rubles (one billion euros).

KAZAKHSTAN
Astana's Economy Minister Alibek Kuantyrov informed that as early as next year a "luxury tax" will be introduced in Kazakhstan for those who own several properties, luxury or high-powered cars, and other higher-level items. The rule changes the tax proportions already in place, and it is thought that, in this way, the holes in the state budget will be healed.

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