Hong Kong: Newspaper forced to remove satirical cartoon

Today's headlines: FAO in Afghanistan raises alarm over locust invasion; In Pakistan, the former foreign minister of Imran Khan's party is also arrested; East Timor's first participation in Asean with a view to accession; The campaign for a 'No' vote in the referendum for indigenous people in Australia strengthens.

HONG KONG

The Chinese-language daily Ming Pao has deleted a satirical cartoon after a series of criticisms by the Hong Kong authorities. Cartoonist Wong Kei-kwan, known as 'Zunzi', has been publishing his snapshots of the city since 1983. The strip in question showed a man telling a woman that the new city representatives would be chosen 'if the superior deems them fit', even if they failed all examinations and health tests. "My feeling is that the pressure is building and it will not stop without change," the 67-year-old said.

AFGHANISTAN

In recent days, the United Nations has raised the alarm about a locust invasion in at least 10 provinces of Afghanistan, considered the country's 'breadbasket'. "The Moroccan locust eats more than 150 species of plants, many of which are cultivated in Afghanistan. It poses a huge threat to farmers, communities and the entire country," said FAO representative Richard Trenchard. "The last two major outbreaks, 20 and 40 years ago, cost Afghanistan about eight and 25 percent of its annual wheat production," he added.

PAKISTAN

The situation in Pakistan continues to be tense: the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party from which Imran Khan originates, announced that Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister during the leader's government who was imprisoned two days ago, has also been arrested. Two other important PTI figures were also arrested in the last few hours.

EAST TIMOR

The Prime Minister of East Timor, Taur Matan Ruak, attended a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for the first time after being granted observer status. "Today, finally, thanks to the actions we have taken, I can stand here as Prime Minister of Timor-Leste and say: we will fulfil all our obligations for full Asean membership."

AUSTRALIA

Opposition to the referendum for the recognition of indigenous peoples in Australia is growing from the indigenous peoples themselves: Warren Mundine, former chairman of the Labour Party, and a group supported by Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, both from indigenous peoples, have announced that they will join forces to create a joint 'No' campaign to be called 'Australians for Unity'.

RUSSIA

At least three Russian citizens were arrested for discrediting the Armed Forces on 9 May solely because of their clothing: one in Nizhny Novgorod because he was wearing a sweatshirt with Putin's portrait crossed out by an X, two in Moscow because their clothes bore "the colours of the Ukrainian flag", yellow-blue, a woman on her jacket and a boy on his trousers.

SYRIA - TURKEY

The foreign ministers of Russia, Syria, Turkey and Iran met in Moscow to assess a normalisation of relations between Damascus and Ankara. It emerged from the meeting that the priority for the Syrian government is to end the presence of all foreign armed forces, including the Turkish one. Russian Minister Lavrov said that a roadmap could 'positively affect the whole current situation in the region and the entire Middle East'.

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