Thursday, January 6, 2022

Six In The Morning Thursday 6 January 2022

 

US Capitol attack: Rioters 'held dagger to the throat of America' - Biden

President Joe Biden has said rioters who stormed the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 "held a dagger at the throat of America and American democracy".

In a televised speech marking the first anniversary of the events, Mr Biden said they came "in rage", and "in the service of one man".

He accused his predecessor Donald Trump of spreading "a web of lies" that led to the attack on the Congress building.

Investigators have so far arrested 725 suspects in connection with the riot.

"Those who stormed this Capitol and those who instigated this incidence, held a dagger at the throat of America and American democracy", Mr Biden said in Statuary Hall, a section of the Capitol complex that was breached by rioters.

Dozens of protesters and police dead amid Kazakhstan unrest



Witnesses in Almaty describe scenes of chaos in streets as Russian ‘peacekeepers’ arrive in country





Dozens of protesters and at least 12 police officers have died during the ongoing violence in Kazakhstan, authorities claimed, as “peacekeepers” from a Russian-led military alliance arrived in the country at the request of the embattled president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Witnesses in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, described scenes of chaos on Thursday, with government buildings stormed or set on fire and widespread looting. Many of those demonstrating said the protests had started out peaceful earlier in the week, and turned violent after a heavy-handed government response.

The interior ministry said 2,298 people had been arrested during the unrest, while the police spokesperson Saltanat Azirbek told state news channel Khabar-24 that “dozens of attackers were liquidated”. There were also reports of about 400 people in hospital. City officials in Almaty said 748 officers from police and the national guard had been injured and 18 killed, one of whom they claimed had been found beheaded.


Serbia in shock over Australia's refusal to let Djokovic in

Serbia is nervously awaiting the outcome of what increasingly looks like a soap opera, with its most famous sports idol in the lead role

Via AP news wire

Serbia is nervously awaiting the outcome of what increasingly looks like a soap opera with the country's most famous sports idol in the lead role.

The world's top-ranked men's tennis player, Novak Djokovic faces the prospect of deportation from Australia Djokovic had hoped to win his 21st Grand Slam title at this month's Australian Open, which would set the men’s record for major championship victories.

The 34-year-old Serb's ability to compete in Melbourne and overtake rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer has been in limbo since the Australian Border Force canceled Djokovic’s visa because he failed to meet requirements for a COVID-19 vaccination exemption. A court hearing on his case has been set for Monday.


Dugri: Rapping about the Middle East conflict

When violence between Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Israel escalated in May 2021, a Jew and an Arab Israeli released their first song: "Dugri" — straight talk. Now the duo is back with a follow up.

Jaffa in December 2021: Arab families sit in the restaurants of the Old City, while young Israelis sit in hipster cafes nearby. The atmosphere is relaxed. "We don't kill each other here every day," says Sameh Zakout, who has his studio apartment on a small side street in Jaffa. "On a daily basis, we get along fine." He laughs bitterly.

However, it is rare for a Jew and a Palestinian to actually sit at the same table and talk openly with each other, he says. But that's exactly what Sameh Zakout and Uriya Rosenman do — these two young men with different roots have conceived a rap project whose Arabic name, Dugri, translates to "straight talk."


North Korea claims second successful test of 'hypersonic' missile

North Korea fired a "hypersonic missile" this week that successfully hit a target, state news agency KCNA reported on Thursday, its second such test as the country pursues new military capabilities amid stalled denuclearisation talks.

The launch on Wednesday was the first by North Korea since October and was detected by several militaries in the region, drawing criticism from governments in the United States, South Korea, and Japan.

North Korea first tested a hypersonic missile in September, joining a race headed by major military powers to deploy the advanced weapons system.


Xi'an lockdown brings heartbreak and dysfunction as political pressure to contain outbreak grows


Updated 0617 GMT (1417 HKT) January 6, 2022



As the locked down Chinese city of Xi'an claimed victory this week in its fight to contain the community spread of Covid-19, harrowing tales of loss and despair have emerged on social media -- highlighting the immense human cost of China's zero-Covid policy.

The city of 13 million has been under strict lockdown since December 23, as it grapples with the country's worst coronavirus outbreak since Wuhan, the original epicenter of the pandemic. But local authorities have faced a public outcry over perceived incompetence, and disproportionately harsh measures that critics say harm the lives of those they are supposed to protect.
Over the past two weeks, Chinese social media has been flooded with posts from residents who say they have not received food, basic supplies, even medical care -- painting an image of local government dysfunction as pressure builds on local officials to contain Covid just weeks before major Lunar New Year festivities and the Beijing Winter Olympics.





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