Beijing picks John Lee to lead Hong Kong's government

Today's headlines: North Korea is reportedly restoring a nuclear test site; Indonesia and the Philippines hit by the grain crisis caused by the war in Ukraine; Sri Lanka's exports forcast to fall; Israeli police kill Palestinian bomber; Dialogue between the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow and the EU.  

HONG KONG-CHINA

Hong Kong's number two executive, John Lee, will enter the race to replace Carrie Lam at the helm of the city government. Today, China's State Council accepted his resignation from his current post. Local media give Lee as the preferred option for Beijing, which could impose him as the sole candidate in the May elections.

NORTH KOREA

Kim Jong-un's regime is reportedly restoring the Punggye-ri site used for atomic testing. Pyongyang has resumed missile experiments in recent months and several observers suggest it may be working on a new nuclear test.

INDONESIA-PHILIPPINES

In Southeast Asia, Indonesians and Filipinos are those who will suffer the most serious consequences of the cereal crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. Another country that will face problems in the sector is Thailand.

SRI LANKA

Sri Lankan industrialists estimate that exports of goods and services will drop by 20-30% this year. This is the result of the economic crisis that has thrown the country into chaos, with a large part of the population calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

ISRAEL-PALESTINE

The Israeli Security Forces killed a Palestinian last night; shortly before the man had murdered two people and wounded 12 others by shooting in a Tel Aviv bar. After he escaped, police detained 29-year-old Raad Hazem - originally from Jenin - in Jaffa.

TURKMENISTAN

The new Turkmen president, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, has replaced the strongest figures of the previous government, led by his father Gurbanguly. He removed the Secretary of the State Council and the Minister of the Interior. He also abolished the post of Deputy Premier for Security, occupied by Charymurat Amanov.

RUSSIA-EU

Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev), head of the Foreign Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, met in Moscow with the head of the EU representation, Markus Ederer. The two discussed the situation in Ukraine and "other issues of common interest".

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