Maldives opposition wants to call for impeachment of pro-Chinese president

Today's news: Hong Kong to present new details on national security law; Two ships taken hostage by Somali pirates are freed; CNN office closes in the Philippines; Chinese companies will build Central Asia's first private airport.

HONG KONG

The Hong Kong government today presented new details about the infamous national security law, which local authorities say covers some loopholes in the law, but critics say will actually further limit civil liberties. Crimes such as treason and theft of state secrets will be covered, and foreign political organizations will be banned from forming ties with local bodies

CHINA - UZBEKISTAN

An agreement was signed at the Chinese-Uzbek Business Forum in Shenzen to build Central Asia's first private airport in Tashkent. Work will begin this year, for an investment of 380 million dollars, entirely financed by Chinese companies, as Podrobno.uz writes.

PHILIPPINES

While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in Vietnam, where he signed a maritime cooperation agreement, at home he is closing CNN's local bureau due to "significant financial losses." The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said the closure means “one less source of reliable information for the public at a time when misinformation and misinformation are rampant.”

ASEAN – MYANMAR

Having abandoned the idea of a five-point peace plan, ASEAN foreign ministers said they supported a country-led solution to the crisis in Myanmar, and supported the activities of the organisation's new special envoy, Alounkeo Kittikhoun, from Laos, who met the head of the military junta, General Min Aung Hlaing, at the beginning of the month. However, once again, no concrete results were produced.

MALDIVES

The main opposition party in the Maldives has announced that it is ready to present an impeachment motion against the current president Mohamed Muizzu, pro-Chinese and elected in November, after a brawl broke out between government lawmakers and opposition MPs over the approval of four new cabinet members. The motion must be approved by a two-thirds majority in the House.

INDIAN OCEAN

The authorities of India and the Seychelles announced that they had recovered two ships (one flying the Iranian flag and the other Sri Lankan) which had been taken hostage by Somali pirates. Sri Lanka had said its diplomats were in contact with Somali authorities in an attempt to ascertain the whereabouts of a fishing vessel and its six crew members. In fact, the international forces patrolling the region have recently all been diverted towards the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks, leaving a void in the Indian Ocean.

UKRAINE

For a few weeks in Khar'kov, Ukraine, Metrosad or "Metro-kindergarten" have been opened in some spaces of the subway to gather children and keep them safe from Russian attacks, attended by around 700 children, many of whom had not yet been able to go kindergarten for the pandemic and then for the war, with three two-hour shifts.

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