Thursday, August 5, 2021

Six In The Morning Thursday 5 August 2021

 

He is one of only 39 detainees left at Guantanamo. Once tortured, prisoner's case is a test of larger political realities at play.

Updated 1438 GMT (2238 HKT) August 5, 2021


Nearly two decades ago, in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, a man named Mohammed al-Qahtani was captured on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Saudi national, US authorities alleged, was an al-Qaeda operative who was supposed to have been the "20th hijacker" but he failed to board United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in rural Pennsylvania.
After his capture, al-Qahtani was imprisoned, tortured by the US government and -- when charges against him were dropped in 2008 -- left to languish behind bars with no end in sight.



Eight dead as wildfires continue to rage across southern Europe

Deaths occur in Turkey with Italy and Greece also badly hit with thousands evacuated

 in Rome, and agencies

Eight people have died and thousands have been evacuated from their homes as extreme wildfires continue to rage in parts of southern Europe.

The deaths occurred in Turkey, where for the past week firefighters have battled blazes in several coastal resort towns. Ten other people have been hospitalised. On Thursday, Turkish coastguards evacuated hundreds of villagers living close to a burning power plant in the Aegean province of Muğla.

In Italy, the number of large wildfires is estimated to have tripled this summer compared to the yearly average, causing millions of euros-worth of damage to the environment and economy in central and southern regions.


Iranian regime will stop at nothing to ensure survival

Against the backdrop of growing protests over water shortages, Iran's new hardline president takes office on Thursday. For ordinary Iranians, a life in fear and repression will continue, writes Azadeh Pourzand.

The recent protests that erupted under the pretext of socioeconomic deprivations, but are rooted in political grievances stemming from decades of lack of accountability and repression, have become a trend in the country.

Regrettably, the brutal crackdown of these protests by the regime is also the disconcerting order of the day. This is all while the authorities continue to make twisted statements, warning against the conspiracy of "the enemy"against the nation.


Biden offers Hong Kongers in US safe haven

President Joe Biden announced Thursday that Hong Kong citizens currently in the United States who fear for their safety amid the political crackdown back home will receive temporary safe haven.

Biden said the move recognizes "the significant erosion" of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong by the Chinese government.

"By unilaterally imposing on Hong Kong the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the People's Republic of China has undermined the enjoyment of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong," he said in a statement.


South Sudan’s Machar says ‘peace spoilers’ removed him from party

The country’s VP says those who announced his removal are no longer members of the movement’s military command council.

South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar has accused rival military leaders, who announced he had been deposed as leader of the political party and the armed forces, of trying to block the country’s peace process.

On Wednesday, the military wing of his SPLM/A-IO movement said it had removed Machar, who helped push his partner, President Salva Kiir, to a peace deal in 2018 and the subsequent formation of a unity government, for undermining reforms.


Belarus Olympian Timanovskaya says grandmother warned her not to come home




A sprinter from Belarus who refused her team's orders to fly home early from the Olympics has revealed she decided to flee after her grandmother warned her it was not safe to return.

Krystina Timanovskaya told the BBC she was being driven to the airport when her grandmother called, saying: "Do not come back."

The athlete had been ordered to return home after criticising her coaches.

She is now in Poland, where she has been given a humanitarian visa.











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