Kazakhstan detains former national security chief on suspicion of treason
The former head of Kazakhstan’s domestic intelligence agency has been detained on suspicion of high treason, the agency said, after he was fired amid violent protests.
The National Security Committee, or KNB, said in a statement on Saturday that its former chief Karim Masimov had been detained on Thursday after it launched an investigation into charges of high treason.
“On suspicion of committing this crime, former chairman of the KNB, K.K. Masimov was detained and placed in a temporary detention centre, along with others,” the statement said.
IHU: How dangerous is new Covid variant and where has it spread?
Researchers referring to B.1.640.2 as ‘new variant of probably Cameroonian origin’
Scientists are still examining a new Covid variant, first discovered in southern France last year, to determine whether it could go on to become one of “concern” in the same way strains such as Delta and Omicron have before it.
However, analysis from experts so far suggest it is currently not one to be concerned about.
Unofficially named IHU – in a nod to the group of researchers from the IHU Mediterranee Infection institute, in Marseille, who are studying it – the new B.1.640.2 variant has so far infected 12 people living in the southeast of France.
Afghanistan: How press freedom has crumbled since the Taliban takeover
Thousands of journalists have lost their jobs in Afghanistan over the past few months as many media outlets ceased operations due to increasing security and financial challenges.
Selma (name changed) was a journalist and activist living and working in Panjshir province in northeastern Afghanistan. She lost her job following the Taliban takeover of the war-ravaged country in August.
After being threatened, she left the region and is now in hiding, selling bolani, a local flat bread, on the streets to survive.
"I worked as a journalist and human rights activist," Selma, who asked not to reveal her true identity for fear of reprisals, told DW. "As you know, women's rights are strongly related to religious ideologies, so we were always in dispute with extremists. This put us in danger."
'It’s wrongful imprisonment': Loved ones fear for Frenchman detained in Iran for 'spying'
Almost two years ago, Benjamin Brière was accused of spying while visiting Iran on holiday and imprisoned in the northeast of the country. Since then the Frenchman has been held in prison with no date given for a trial. On Saturday, a protest in solidarity with Brière took place in Paris. His sister spoke to FRANCE 24.
“We want to show that Benjamin Brière exists, that he’s not just a passive hostage waiting for something to happen,” his sister Blandine Brière, 31, told FRANCE 24. Benjamin Brière’s loved ones have been consumed with worry and a sense of powerlessness since he was detained in Iran in May 2020. The protest, on Saturday January 8, at Place du Trocadero, Paris, is a way to show support for him, and they hope that it will lead to his release from prison. “There is no valid reason to keep him where he is,” said Blandine. “It’s wrongful imprisonment.”
Egypt frees activist Ramy Shaath after he abandons nationality
Shaath’s detention came amid a continuing crackdown on political dissent under Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Egyptian authorities have freed Egyptian-Palestinian rights activist Ramy Shaath from more than 900 days of detention after forcing him to renounce his Egyptian nationality.
A family statement said on Saturday that Shaath – a member of several secular political groups in Egypt and a co-founder of Egypt’s pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement – was released on Thursday evening and handed to a representative of the Palestinian Authority in Cairo before being flown to Jordan.
Novak Djokovic: Having Covid gave tennis star vaccine exemption - lawyers
Tennis star Novak Djokovic had a vaccine exemption to enter Australia after a Covid infection on 16 December, his lawyers say in court documents.
Djokovic was denied entry to Australia after landing in Melbourne this week to play in the Australian Open.
The world's top ranked tennis player is currently in an immigration detention centre ahead of a court case on Monday.
His case has caused a huge outcry in Australia and made headlines around the world.
A second Australian Open hopeful, Renata Voracova from the Czech Republic, has now left the country after having her visa cancelled.
The Czech government had argued the 38-year-old, ranked 81 in the world, had entered Australia on a valid exemption, because she too had had Covid recently.
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