News in Brief (2024-01-09)

Maldives suspends three officials for insulting Indian PM
MALE (Maldives), Jan 08: The Maldives government has suspended three deputy ministers for disparaging India's prime minister, an official said on Sunday, during a dip in ties with its powerful neighbour. Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid all worked for the archipelago's Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts and were disciplined for their comments on social media, the senior government official told Reuters. The three had variously labelled Indian premier Narendra Modi a "clown", "terrorist" and "puppet of Israel" on social media platform X, in response to a video of him visiting the Indian islands of Lakshadweep to promote local tourism. Some viewed his visit as trying to draw tourists away from the globally popular Maldives, whose 1,192 islands in the Indian Ocean are dotted with luxury resorts. — Reuters
More than 1.m people attend Christmas services in Moscow
MOSCOW, Jan 08: More than 1 mln believers took part in Christmas services in hundreds of Moscow churches, head of the capital's department for national policy and interregional relations Vitaly Suchkov told TASS. "Despite the frost, more than 1 million people attended Christmas services in Moscow," Suchkov said. He clarified that a total of about 550 churches in the capital were open on these holidays. Orthodox Christians packed churches Saturday night for Christmas Eve services, a holiday overshadowed for many believers by conflict. Traditions vary, but typically the main worship service for Orthodox Christians takes place the night before Christmas, which is Jan. 7. Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the world’s largest Orthodox denomination, led elaborate and well-attended services at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. — TASS
Macron moves to name new government chief in reshuffle
PARIS, Jan 08: French President Emmanuel Macron could choose a new prime minister as soon as Monday, according to his entourage, as he seeks a new look for a widely criticised government. The position of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has been tenuous ever since an immigration bill pushed by Macron was voted down in parliament last month. It was finally passed with many controversial changes imposed by the centre-right opposition. Macron, who is also facing a growing challenge from the far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen, met with Borne Sunday night. His office said the discussion centred on flooding in northern France and a looming freeze across the country, but observers said they likely discussed a widely-predicted cabinet reshuffle. — AFP
China's top spy agency says it exposes British espionage case
BEIJING, Jan 08: China said its security agencies found another incident of spying in which the British Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, used a foreigner in China to collect secrets and information. The case by China highlights the ongoing heated exchanges the countries have traded over accusations of perceived spying that threatens their respective national securities. China's Ministry of State Security revealed on its WeChat social media account on Monday that a foreigner, only identified by surname Huang, was in charge of an overseas consulting agency, and in 2015, MI6 established an "intelligence cooperative relationship" with the person. — Reuters