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Middle East

Iran’s Only Female Olympic Medalist Disowns Birth Country for Europe

Iran’s only female Olympic medalist, Kimia Alizadeh, has announced that she is permanently leaving her country for Europe. The 21-year-old wrote in an Instagram post explaining why she was defecting, “Let me start with a greeting, a farewell or condolences,” “I am one of the millions of oppressed women in Iran who they have been playing with for years.” Alizadeh became the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic medal after claiming bronze in the 57kg category of Taekwondo at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Affectionately known in Iran as “The Tsunami,” Alizadeh announced she was leaving her birth country amid searing criticism of the regime in Tehran. “They took me wherever they wanted. I wore whatever they said. Every sentence they ordered me to say, I repeated. Whenever they saw fit, they exploited me,” she wrote, adding that credit for her success always went to those in charge. “I wasn’t…

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Africa News

Women’s Marathon World Record Holder to Defend Title

Brigid Kosgei, Women’s marathon world record holder will return to defend her championship at the 2020 London Marathon, organizers said on Monday. Kosgei of Kenya set the women’s world record last October in two hours, 14 minutes and four seconds marathon, shattering Paula Radcliffe’s world marathon record, which no woman had come close to in the past 16 years. Six months before the Chicago record-breaking run the 25-year-old won the London Marathon for the first time and she is not hesitant about coming back to defend her championship with other elite lineup of Kenyan runners. “I am very much looking forward to returning to the London Marathon,” Kosgei said in a statement. “Last year was an incredible year for me and it started by winning in London. Coming back will be very special and I hope it can be the start of another memorable year.” Fellow Kenyan and world record…

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South America News

Bolivian Opposition Senator Jeanine Áñez Declares Herself Interim President

Bolivian opposition senator Jeanine Áñez has declared herself interim president of the South American country following Evo Morales’ resignation. Ms Áñez said she was next in line under the constitution and vowed to hold elections soon. Her appointment was endorsed by Bolivia’s Constitutional Court. Lawmakers from Mr Morales’ party boycotted the session, and the former president branded Ms Áñez “a coup-mongering right-wing senator”. Mr Morales has fled to Mexico, saying he asked for asylum there because his life was in danger. He resigned on Sunday after weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election result. He has said he had been forced to stand down but had done so willingly “so there would be no more bloodshed”. How did the senator become interim president? Ms Áñez, 52, is a qualified lawyer and a fierce critic of Mr Morales. She was previously director of the Totalvision TV station, and has been…

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Middle East

Saudi State Security Apologises Over Promo Video Labelling Feminism as Extremism

Saudi Arabia’s state security agency says a social media post on one of its accounts that categorised feminism as extremism was a mistake. The promotional video categorised feminism, homosexuality and atheism as dangerous ideas and warned Saudis to be vigilant against them. The security agency says it is investigating the video. Saudi Arabia is trying to shake off its image as one of the most repressive countries in the world for women. The animated clip was posted to the Twitter account of the State Security Presidency over the weekend. The agency reports directly to King Salman. The agency said in a statement that the video contained multiple mistakes and the makers of the video did not do their job properly. The Saudi Human Rights Commission also released a statement saying that feminism was not a crime. However, it did not make reference to homosexuality or atheism. Saudi Arabia has no…

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Asia News

SMG’s Esther Ng Emerged the Winner of Asian Women Entrepreneurs Award

Star Media Group’s Esther Ng was honoured at the Asian Women Entrepreneurs Awards in the Media and Communications category. The company’s chief content officer was bestowed the award by the Malaysia Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Association (MCWEA) for her experience and work in the Star Media Group’s transformation to a digital-first media outlet. Ng said it was good that the achievements of women in the media industry were acknowledged and honoured. “I stand somewhat alone in this, in that there are so few female editors-in-chief among the main media in the country. “It’s time, not just to sit up but stand up for ourselves. We need to mark and celebrate each milestone we achieve. In the tough and challenging world that is the media industry, editors of mainstream media need to stand together in combating fake news. “Real news has become a necessity,” she said when met at the presentation ceremony…

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Africa News

South Africa’s Barbara Creecy Grants Fishing Access to Western Cape Fishermen

Small-scale fishers of the Western Cape have for the first time been granted access to fishing during the 2019/20 west coast rock lobster season as part of the transition to the new small-scale fishing sector. This was announced by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy, following a series of stakeholder workshops with fishing communities in the Western Cape. “There was a general call for interim relief fishers to continue fishing for the next season and for fishers on the declared small-scale fishers list to be granted access to fish,” said the Minister adding that, in considering the requests from communities, the Department had been instructed to fast-track the roll-out of the small-scale fisheries sector in the province. The Department was also directed to provide a transition from the current interim relief arrangement to a permanent and more structured small-scale fisheries sector in the Western Cape. Minister…

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Middle East

Israel Appoints Its First Female Chief Intelligence Officer

For the first time in Israel’s history, a woman was nominated to serve as the chief intelligence officer for an Israel Defense Forces regional command on Monday, the army said. Col. “Nun” — who for security reasons can only be identified by her rank and first Hebrew initial of her name — was named as the next chief intelligence officer for the IDF Central Command, which operates in the West Bank. Nun was drafted into the IDF in 2000 and served in a host of positions within Military Intelligence before her appointment to the high-ranking and highly sensitive role on Monday. It was not immediately clear when she would enter the new position. Nun’s appointment was one of several announced by the IDF on Monday. Brig. Gen. Eyal Harel was nominated to replace Brig. Gen. Shai Elbaz, who resigned suddenly last week ahead of a television report alleging he had…

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