Six In The Morning Tuesday 30 November 2021

 

Covid: Omicron variant in Netherlands earlier than thought

The new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, was present in the Netherlands earlier than previously thought, officials say.

It was identified in two test samples taken in the country between 19 and 23 November, which is before the variant was first reported by South Africa.

It is not clear whether those who took the tests had visited southern Africa.

It was previously thought that two flights that arrived from South Africa on Sunday had brought the first cases of the variant to the Netherlands.

UK spy chief suggests China risks ‘miscalculation’ over Taiwan

Island’s status and surveillance technology making China ‘single greatest priority’ for MI6

Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor

Tue 30 Nov 2021 15.47 GMT

China is at risk of “miscalculating through over-confidence” over Taiwan, said the MI6 head, Richard Moore, in a statement clearly intended to warn Beijing to back off any attempt to seize control of the island.

Giving a rare speech, Britain’s foreign intelligence chief said in London that China was at risk of “believing its own propaganda” and that the country had become “the single greatest priority” for MI6 for the first time in its history.

Moore did not mention Taiwan explicitly, but the status of the country, whose independence is not recognised by Beijing, remains the most acute issue of tension between China and the west.

German court finds former 'IS' member guilty of genocide

A German court has found a former "Islamic State" member guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity for the 2015 killing of a 5-year-old girl, sentencing him to life in prison.

Frankfurt's Higher Regional Court on Tuesday found 29-year-old Taha A.-J.guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity resulting in death, sentencing him to life in prison.

The Frankfurt case is the first in the world to decide whether a former member of the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) group played a role in the attempted genocide of the Yazidi religious group.

The proceedings had to be briefly suspended as the defendant passed out when the verdict was read aloud in court.

Sudan security forces fire tear gas at Khartoum protesters

Demands for full civilian rule continue after an agreement reinstating civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

Sudanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse pro-democracy protesters near the presidential palace in the capital, Khartoum, as tens of thousands marched against military rule following last month’s coup.

The rally on Tuesday was the latest show of opposition to military rule since last month’s coup that ended a partnership between civilian political groups and the military.

The Taliban executed scores of Afghan security forces members after surrender, HRW report alleges

By Radina Gigova and Rob Picheta, CNN

Updated 1627 GMT (0027 HKT) November 30, 2021

The Taliban executed dozens of members of the Afghan security forces after they surrendered following the militants' seizure of Afghanistan in late summer, new research released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday alleges.

The HRW report detailed "the summary execution or enforced disappearance" of 47 former members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), including military personnel, police, intelligence service members and paramilitary militia, who had surrendered to or were apprehended by Taliban forces between August 15 and October 31.

HRW says the report is based on a total of 67 interviews, including 40 in-person interviews with witnesses, relatives and friends of victims, and Taliban fighters. Some people were granted anonymity by HRW for their report. In some cases, families report stories of people who simply disappeared.

Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money.

These are seven of the most high-impact, cost-effective, evidence-based organizations. You may not have heard of them.

By Sigal Samuel and Muizz Akhtar 

If you’re reading this, chances are you care a lot about fighting climate change, and that’s great. The climate emergency threatens all of humanity. Our global response to it has been totally inadequate. Since 2000, carbon dioxide emissions have actually risen 12 percent. We need to reverse that trend — and fast.

The trouble is, it can be genuinely hard to figure out how to direct your money wisely if you want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There’s a glut of environmental organizations out there — but how do you know which are the most impactful?