Djokovic to stay in Australia…or maybe not?
World Number 1 Novak Djokovic has won an appeal against the Australian Government’s decision to cancel his visa, with the judge ordering authorities to release the tennis player from immigration detention within 30 minutes of the judgement. This paves the way for Djokovic to defend his title at the Australian Open which is due to start on the 17th of January. However, immediately after the sentence was delivered in court, the judge was informed that immigration minister Alex Hawke would consider excersising his personal power to cancel Djokovic’s visa, implying that the tennis player might be banned from entering Australia for three years. The judge stated that he couldn’t stop a minister from validly exercising his executive power.
Pessimism as US-Russia Ukraine talks sour
On the eve of today’s Geneva talks to try to defuse the crisis in Ukraine, Russia said Sunday it would not make concessions under US pressure and warned that the talks might end early. On the other hand, Washington said no breakthroughs were expected and progress depended on de-escalation from Moscow. Talks begin in Geneva before moving to Brussels and Vienna, but the state-owned Russian RIA news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov saying it was entirely possible the diplomacy could end after a single meeting.
19 dead in New York apartment fire
Nineteen people, including nine children, were killed in a fire that broke out in a New York apartment in the Bronx. A malfunctioning heater sparked the blaze. The fire broke out in the home of an old 19-storey building and then quickly spread throughout the complex called Twin Park. Victims were found on every floor of the apartment building. The number of injured is 63, of whom at least 32 were hospitalised.
Aung San Suu Kyi gets 4 years in prison
Former Burma civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to four years in prison in a part of the trial against her at the end of which she risks decades of detention. Suu Kyi, under house arrest since last year’s coup, was found guilty of illegally importing walkie-talkies. She had already been sentenced in December to four years in prison for violating COVID-19 restrictions – a sentence reduced to two years by the junta.
Golden Globe Award winners
The Power of the Dog, West Side Story and Succession were among the winners of the 79th Golden Globe Awards that were announced on Sunday night via social media. The Globes honoured The Power of the Dog with key wins, including best motion picture in the drama category, along with best director for Jane Campion. West Side Story won for best picture on the musical or comedy side, in addition to best actress in a musical or comedy for Rachel Zegler. Succession was honoured as best TV drama series, in addition to picking up acting wins for Jeremy Strong and Sarah Snook. Hacks collected the prize for best TV comedy series and best actress in a comedy series for Jean Smart. Among the night’s notable winners was Pose star Michaela Jae Rodriguez, who became the first trans woman to win a Globe. Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s film Drive My Car won the Globe for best foreign film.
6,000 arrests since start of Kazakhstan riots
As many as 5,800 people have been arrested in Kazakhstan since the beginning of the violent riots that broke out during the week. The Kazakhi Interior Ministry said the arrests followed 125 different investigations. Also, the economic damage caused by the riots and violence amounted to about €175 million, with over 100 bank branches looted and 400 vehicles destroyed. The situation had stabilised and some 30 supermarkets have reopened their doors.
Thousands protest COVID curbs in Europe
Thousands of people have taken part in demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions on Sunday in Belgium and the Czech Republic, while cities in Germany and Vienna saw renewed protests on Saturday. Weekend demonstrations have continued across the EU as governments impose tighter curbs and new rules to encourage COVID jabs and booster shots.
Africa clocks in 10 million COVID cases
Africa has exceeded 10 million COVID cases, according to data from the African Union health department. Since the beginning of the pandemic the total number of cases rose to 10,207,000 in the 55 African states. Over 232,000 died.
Woodstock festival organiser Michael Lang dead at 77
The death has been announced of music myth Michael Lang, the impresario who organised the Woodstock festival in 1969 with three friends. He died of cancer in a New York hospital, aged 77. He had last appeared in public for the fiftieth anniversary of the legendary gathering of peace and music (spiced up with sex, drugs and torrential rain) that defined a generation and changed the history of music forever. For Woodstock, they were thinking of a gathering of 50,000 people but 500,000 arrived and found themselves without any support, without food, water and medical support.
Football: Cameroon ‘delerious’ after opening win
The host of football’s Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon, has beaten Burkina Faso 2-1 in the opening match of the tournament, sending jubuilant crowds into the streets of the capital Yaounde. Cape Verde beat Ethopia 1-0. There are four matches today, as 2019 runners-up Senegal goes into action against Zimbabwe, and four-time champions Ghana face Morocco, Guinea play Malawi while Comorros face Gabon.
