China Announces the Reopening of the Border with Hong Kong (Image: Peter Parks/AFP)
The announcement comes after three years of border controls that have isolated the financial hub from the Chinese mainland.
China Announces the Reopening of the Border with Hong Kong (Image: Peter Parks/AFP)
China announced it will open its border with Hong Kong on Sunday, ending three years of pandemic restrictions that have isolated the financial hub from the Chinese mainland.
Hong Kong residents traveling to mainland China will no longer have to quarantine or undergo a COVID-19 test after arriving as part of moves to resume cross-border travel in a “gradual and orderly” manner, China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said in a statement on Thursday.
Visitors will still need to provide a negative COVID test result within the previous 48 hours before traveling and complete a health declaration form.
China will also resume issuing travel and business visas for mainland Chinese residents to travel to Hong Kong.
More than 236 million trips were made across the border before the pandemic, according to government data.
The moves come after Beijing said it would reopen its international borders and remove the mandatory quarantine from Jan 8.
The announcement is China’s latest step toward undoing its controversial “zero COVID” policy, which was credited with saving lives but inflicting grueling social and economic costs.
Hong Kong, which followed a less stringent version of the “zero COVID” strategy for much of the pandemic, removed most of its restrictions in December, though masks remain mandatory in most settings.
COVID infections in China have risen in recent weeks following the lifting of harsh restrictions, such as lockdowns and mandatory quarantine. Health authorities have reported only a handful of deaths despite evidence from hospitals, morgues, and crematoria that deaths have risen sharply across the country. Some health experts have predicted that the country could experience up to two million deaths due to the population’s lack of natural immunity and irregular vaccination coverage among the elderly.
Countries including France, India, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States have introduced COVID testing and other measures for travelers from China amid concerns that rising cases could lead to the emergence of new and more dangerous variants.
China has criticized the measures as “unacceptable” and lacking scientific basis.
Google Accuses India Watchdog of Copy-Pasting EU's Android Ruling (Image: Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
The tech giant argues that a $161 million fine for exploiting the market dominance of its Android operating system should be overturned.
Google Accuses India Watchdog of Copy-Pasting EU’s Android Ruling (Image: Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
Google has told a court in India that the country’s antitrust investigators copied parts of a European ruling against the U.S. firm for abusing the market dominance of its Android operating system, arguing that the decision should be overturned, legal documents show.
The Indian Competition Commission (ICC) in October fined Alphabet Inc’s Google $161 million for exploiting its dominant position in markets such as online search and the Android app store and asked it to change restrictions imposed on smartphone makers related to pre-installing apps.
Sources told Reuters news agency in October that Google was concerned about India’s decision as the ordered remedies were seen as more radical than the European Commission’s landmark 2018 ruling to impose illegal restrictions on Android mobile device makers. Google has challenged a record fine of 4.1 billion euros ($4.3 billion) in that case.
In its filing with an Indian appeals court, Google argues that the ICC’s investigative unit “copied and pasted extensively from a European Commission decision, deploying evidence from Europe that was not examined in India.”
“There are more than 50 cases of copypasting,” in some cases “word for word,” and the watchdog wrongly dismissed the problem, Google said in its filing, which is not public but has been reviewed by Reuters.
“The Commission failed to conduct an impartial, balanced, and legally sound investigation… Google’s mobile app distribution practices are pro-competitive and not unfair/exclusionary.”
Spokesmen for the ICC and the European Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Google said in a statement that it decided to appeal the CCI’s decision as it believes it “presents a major setback for our Indian users and businesses.” He did not comment on the copy-and-paste allegations in his presentation.
Google has asked the court to overturn the CCI’s order, and the case will be heard on Wednesday.
India’s competition ruling came as Google faces increased antitrust scrutiny around the world. Google licenses its Android system to smartphone makers, but critics say it imposes anti-competitive restrictions.
The US firm says Android has created more options for everyone and such agreements help keep the operating system free. In Europe, 75 percent of the 550 million smartphones run on Android, compared with 97 percent of the 600 million devices in India, Counterpoint Research estimates.
The ICC ruled in October that Google’s license to its Play Store “will not be tied to the requirement to pre-install” Google’s search services, Chrome browser, YouTube, or any other Google app.
In its appeal, Google alleges that the ICC only found antitrust violations related to Google’s search app, Chrome browser, and YouTube, but its order “extends beyond” that.
Separately, Google has also appealed against another Indian antitrust decision in which it was fined $113 million for restricting the use of third-party billing or payment processing services in India. The appeal has not yet been heard.
Russia Bans Oil Sales to Nations and Companies That Comply With Price Cap (Image: Getty Images)
Moscow’s response to the Western price cap is to stop supplying crude oil and petroleum products as of Feb. 1.
Russia Bans Oil Sales to Nations and Companies That Comply With Price Cap (Image: Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree banning oil sales to countries and companies that comply with a price cap agreed upon by Western countries in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow gave its long-awaited response to the price cap on Tuesday. It bans the supply of crude oil and petroleum products starting Feb. 1 for five months to nations that meet the limit.
The presidential decree said the sales ban could be lifted in individual cases through a “special decision” by Putin.
Russia Bans Oil Sales to Nations and Companies That Comply With Price Cap (Image: Aljazeera)
The cap, which was introduced alongside an EU embargo on maritime deliveries of Russian crude oil, aims to ensure that Russia cannot circumvent the embargo by selling its oil to third countries at high prices.
It also seeks to restrict Russia’s income while ensuring that Moscow continues to supply the global market.
Russia has expressed confidence that it will find new buyers and said the cap will not affect its military campaign in Ukraine.
His presidential decree, however, appears to have had at least an immediate effect, an oil and gas analyst, Vyacheslav Mishchenko, told Al Jazeera.
“There is already an increase in crude oil prices in the market,” he said. “I think this is a direct impact of the decree.”
Russia is the world’s second-largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia, and significant disruption in its sales would have far-reaching consequences for global energy supplies.
Gold Rises on China's Covid Shift, Signs of Cooler US Inflation
Gold Rises on China’s Covid Shift, Signs of Cooler US Inflation
Gold rose, trading above $1,800 an ounce, as China removed more of its Covid-19 controls, piling pressure on the dollar as risk assets gained.
China will no longer quarantine incoming travelers from early January, adding to the rapid reversal of strict pandemic rules and boosting sentiment toward Asia’s largest economy.
Markets are also digesting U.S. data on Friday that pointed to weaker inflation and slower consumer spending, which could ease pressure on the Federal Reserve for more rate hikes.
Gold has gained more than 8% this quarter, helped by the dollar’s retreat and hopes that the Fed will slow the aggressive monetary tightening.
Spot gold rose 0.4% to $1,804.60 an ounce at 9:51 a.m. Shanghai time on Tuesday; the Bloomberg Dollar Index fell 0.3% and is near its lowest level since June. Silver, palladium, and platinum were higher.
UN Envoy Calls For Pressure on Taliban Over Women's College Ban (Image: Bilal Guler - Anadolu Agency)
Gordon Brown urges more leaders in Islamic countries to denounce a measure that bans Afghan women from accessing higher education.
UN Envoy Calls For Pressure on Taliban Over Women’s College Ban (Image: Bilal Guler – Anadolu Agency)
The United Nations special envoy for global education has called on Islamic countries to condemn a Taliban move banning female students from universities, the latest in a series of restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan.
“This is one of the saddest days for those who are concerned about the rights of women and girls,” Gordon Brown said of this week’s decision by the Taliban-led Ministry of Higher Education.
In an interview with Al Jazeera broadcast on Friday, Brown said the Afghan economy would be hurt in the long run if women are not allowed to train as doctors, teachers, researchers, scientists, and other professionals.
In the short term, the decision could lead women who have become accustomed to being “independent thinkers” to try to leave the country or submit to these rules, she said.
Brown, who previously served as UK prime minister, noted that while the West had limited influence over the Taliban-led government after two decades of conflict, Islamic countries could play a vital role in influencing Taliban policies towards greater inclusion.
“The way we can deal with this is for all our leaders in Muslim countries to protest and say that Islam does not require this,” he said.
In an editorial published in Britain’s Guardian newspaper, Brown noted that every country in the Muslim world except Taliban-led Afghanistan is publicly committed to the UN’s sustainable development goal of having access to “inclusive and equitable quality education” by 2030.
Several Muslim countries have already condemned the national ban.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the actions would have a substantial effect on Afghanistan’s economy, growth, and human rights. Doha called on Afghanistan’s interim government to review its decision and apply Islamic principles to women’s rights.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday that the ban was “neither Islamic nor humane.” Speaking at a joint press conference with his Yemeni counterpart, Cavusoglu urged the Taliban to reverse the decision.
“What harm is there in women’s education? What harm does it do to Afghanistan?” Cavusoglu said. “Is there an Islamic explanation? On the contrary, our religion, Islam, is not against education. On the contrary, it encourages education and science.”
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry expressed “shock and regret” that Afghan women are being denied a university education. In a statement late Wednesday, the ministry said the decision was “astonishing in all Islamic countries.”
Since returning to power after U.S. troops withdrew in 2021, the Taliban have backtracked on their pledge to guarantee girls’ rights to be educated and other freedoms.
In March, it banned girls from secondary education, later extending the limitations to primary education and eventually to higher education.
The group argues that its rules are in line with its interpretation of Islam.
Afghan students protested against the ban Friday in Kabul when Taliban staff blocked their access to classrooms.
The protests were quickly suppressed by security officials.
The 10 Best Business Articles Every Entrepreneur Should Read (Image: Babson Thought & Action)
The 10 Best Business Articles Every Entrepreneur Should Read (Image: Babson Thought & Action)
Business articles serve as an accessible source of small business advice, whether you find them in a newspaper, business magazine, or business blog. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of the 37 best business articles, business news articles, and business management articles for entrepreneurs covering topics from managing a business to finding the motivation to keep going.
1. “50 Signs You Could Be An Entrepreneur”
Do you have a feeling you could be an entrepreneur at heart? In “50 Signs You Might Be an Entrepreneur,” posted on Entrepreneur.com, John Rampton could point to one, or many, things that make you the perfect small business owner deep down.
Entrepreneurs and business owners have a certain type of spirit and drive that pushes them forward. Use this business article to find out if you possess the qualities of an entrepreneur yourself.
2. “The iEconomy”
If you’re a small business owner on the cutting edge of the tech industry, then The New York Times “The iEconomy” is one of the best compilations of business articles to read.
The articles in this Pulitzer Prize-winning series take a close look at the ever-changing high-tech industry. As an entrepreneur in a technology-oriented business, you may find that the iEconomy series has a unique perspective on how challenging it can be to keep up in the technology industry.
3. “‘Don’t take it personally’ is lousy work advice.”
In this Harvard Business Review article, Duncan Coombe explains why small business owners and employees should take work personally.
This Harvard Business Review article is one of the best business articles for entrepreneurs looking for tips on engaging their employees, building a successful business, and taking pride in their work.
4. “Why you hate work”
In The New York Times’ Why You Hate Work, Tony Schwartz and Christine Porath discuss what the modern employee must do in the workplace.
If you’re wondering how you can make your employees happier at work, this is one of the best business articles to read. Schwartz and Porath delve into what motivates people and what drives them away.
Or if you’re one of those 9 to 5 employees who hates your job, this could be one of the best business articles to inspire you to take charge of your career.
5. “Do you think you are too old to be an entrepreneur? think again”
Despite what you may have learned from “Silicon Valley” or “The Social Network,” not all entrepreneurs are 20-something men wearing a hoodie.
If you’re looking for business articles that reassure you that you’re not too young to start your own business, then you’ve found one in this infographic. Entrepreneurs come of all ages and come from all walks of life, and Anna Vital’s infographic will convince you of that.
6. “Facing the challenge of disruptive change”
“Meeting the Challenge of Disruptive Change,” by legendary economics scholar Clayton Christensen and business consultant Michael Overdorf, is one of the best business articles for entrepreneurs who need help managing change in their business.
Growing pains are an inevitable part of any successful small business. This article helps business owners identify when their companies desperately need change or how to handle change when it comes their way.
Harvard Business Review has a handful of small business articles that have stood the test of time, but “Meeting the Challenge of Disruptive Change” is one of the best business articles to keep referring to as you manage more and more employees.
7. “What makes a leader?”
Another of the best business articles in the Harvard Business Review is “What Makes a Leader?” by Daniel Goleman.
Starting and growing your own business is one thing. Managing and leading your employees once you’ve gotten a few years of business experience under your belt can be a whole different skill set. If you need some tips on how to be a more effective leader in your small business, this is a great read.
8. “Top 5 Reasons ‘The Customer Is Always Right’ Is Wrong”
You’ve heard it before, or maybe you’ve said it yourself: “The customer is always right.”
In his Huffington Post article, Alexander Kjerulf explains why “the customer is always right” shouldn’t be your motto as a small business owner. If you deal with customers in your daily operations, this business article deserves your attention. Not only will you realize why you might be treating your customers poorly, but you might also discover that you’re making the situation worse for your employees along the way.
9. “Regain your creative confidence”
While most business articles in Harvard Business Review cater to the administrative side of things, “Get Your Creative Confidence Back” is about empowering everyone’s creative side.
Creativity is an important trait in a business leader: a recent IBM survey of CEOs around the world shows that it is the most sought after trait in a leader. But as a business owner trying to run a successful company, you can put your creative and “big picture” ideas on the back burner while you work on your business operations.
But it is creativity and innovation that drive companies and industries. So if you feel like you need to reawaken your creative spirit as an entrepreneur, “Get Your Creative Confidence Back” is one of the best business articles to read.
10. “Richard Branson to Young Entrepreneurs: ‘Just Do It.’”
In Oscar Raymundo Inc.’s article, famed entrepreneur Richard Branson explains why aspiring young entrepreneurs must overcome the inherent risk factor of starting a business.
You can sit on a great business idea for years, weighing the pros and cons of starting it. But according to Branson, there comes a time when you just have to do it. If you fail, you fail, and hopefully learned something valuable for your next business venture along the way.
“His message was very clear: it takes guts, but you have to do it. Feel the fear, but do it anyway,” says Darko Jacimovic, who says Branson’s article gave him the confidence to start his business.—WhatToBecome.com. “Over the years, I found that this advice helped me stop overthinking and pushed me to start working. Now that I reflect on my experience, I realize how such simple advice is incredibly important for young entrepreneurs.”
If you’re an entrepreneur who’s been ready to launch a small business for quite some time, this is one of the best business articles to help you take the plunge.
Germany Returns to Coal as Energy Security Exceeds Climate Targets (Image: Getty Images)
Germany Returns to Coal as Energy Security Exceeds Climate Targets (Image: Getty Images)
Germany is poised to increase its reliance on coal as it battles an unprecedented energy crisis, even at the expense of its ambitious climate goals.
Europe’s largest economy is burning fossil fuel for electricity at the fastest rate in at least six years, data compiled by Bloomberg show. It is also poised to be one of the few nations to increase coal imports next year.
Around the world, highly polluting, and relatively cheap, coal is making a comeback as countries seek to prevent rising energy costs from triggering an economic collapse. In Europe, the crisis is acute, after Russia curbed natural gas supplies in the aftermath of its war in Ukraine. Germany is now trying to balance the short-term priority of strengthening energy security with the long-term goal of net-zero emissions.
“Everyone is maintaining their climate goals, but it’s true that when you’re faced with the dilemma of keeping the lights on or decreasing carbon emissions, the option is to keep the lights on,” said Carlos Fernandez Alvarez, acting head of gas, coal, and energy at the International Energy Agency.
Germany plans to phase out coal use by 2038, but the ruling coalition is pushing for an even earlier 2030 target. To weather the current crisis, the country has temporarily recovered some offline coal plants. In most countries, a limited amount of coal power capacity is returning to service. “In Germany alone, with 10 gigawatts, the reversal is on a significant scale,” the IEA said in a report.
Germany now generates more than a third of its electricity from coal-fired power plants, according to Destatis, the federal statistical office. In the third quarter, its electricity from coal-fired generation was 13.3% higher than in the same period a year earlier, the agency said.
“The phase-out of coal ideally by 2030 is not in question,” a spokeswoman for the German Economy Ministry said in a statement. “In the context of the crisis, the most important thing is that we have managed to consume significantly less energy in 2022, especially natural gas.”
Interventions in Germany’s energy market that have led to an increase in emissions are limited in time, and the country has accelerated the development of renewable energy, he said.
Origins of the Renaissance
The renaissance of German coal has two main causes: the shift of fuel from expensive natural gas and growing energy demand from France, where electricity generation has been hampered by disruptions to nuclear reactors.
European gas prices soared to record levels over the summer and remain about double the five-year average for the time of year. Earlier this year, companies such as the power generator Steag GmbH regained coal capacity due to rising gas prices. Automaker Volkswagen AG also shelved a plan to move away from coal at its Wolfsburg facility in Germany.
“Coal is coming back as a baseload generator,” said Guillaume Perret, who runs energy consultancy Perret Associates Ltd. “We think it will be less seasonal than it has been, with more coal burning in summer, spring and fall, as long as coal remains as much money compared to gas and there remains a gas shortage.”
It’s possible that Germany’s emergency coal stations could be kept online until December 2024, nine months after the government’s planned shutdown date, Perret added. He noted that the European Union and Turkey are the only major energy users worldwide that coal imports are expected to increase in 2023 compared to 2022.
This year, Germany will also likely be a net exporter of electricity to France, the first time that has happened in record-keeping since at least 1990, according to Destatis.
Sometimes this month, German electricity became as polluting as energy produced in South Africa and India, after lower wind speeds slowed renewable generation and coal consumption soared, according to Electricity Maps, an app that aggregates grid data.
The Way Forward
There are some bright spots for Europe that can help prevent burning coal. Gas prices have plummeted as previously mild weather delayed the start of the heating season, and the region has seen record levels of liquefied natural gas imports recently. Gas inventories remain above the seasonal average.
In addition, nuclear power in France has begun to return. While some delays continue, reactor availability is now around 68%, network data shows. That compares with about 50% in early November. Germany also plans to keep its three remaining nuclear plants online until mid-April, no later than mid-April, beyond their original retirement date.
While Europe’s coal imports are likely to increase, it is unpredictable exactly how much is burned for energy production, especially if hydropower increases in the region. Germany also increased its renewable energy generation by 2.9% annually in the third quarter of this year, according to Destatis.
“Accelerating the deployment of renewables is the linchpin both for achieving energy sovereignty by the middle of this decade and for our 2030 climate goals,” said Fabian Hein, project manager for EU policy at think tank Agora Energiewende.
A senior U.S. official said Biden will announce a new nearly $2 billion weapons package for Ukraine that will include a Patriot missile battery to help Kyiv defend against Russian missile bombing.
Zelenskiy’s visit, which had been arranged in secret until details emerged Tuesday night, was expected to last several hours.
He will hold talks with Biden and top national security advisers at the White House, participate in a joint press conference with Biden, and then go to the Capitol to address a joint session of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that Biden invited Zelenskiy to Washington “to underscore America’s enduring engagement with Ukraine.”
“The visit will underscore the United States’ firm commitment to support Ukraine for as long as needed, including through the provision of economic, humanitarian, and military assistance,” he said.
Zelenskiy’s trip comes 300 days after Russia invaded Ukraine with the intention of capturing Kiev in days, a goal that quickly faded as the strength of Ukraine’s response, aided by billions in weaponry from the United States and its allies, turned Ukrainians into unexpectedly tough opponents.
Biden’s message to Zelenskiy, the official said, will be one of determination and conviction.
Biden will come face-to-face with the man he has spoken to regularly for the past 10 months, but who has not met in person since the war broke out. With Biden’s staunch support, the West has united behind Ukraine and sought to isolate Russia without engaging in direct conflict with Moscow.
Biden will not use the talks to push Zelenskiy to the negotiating table with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the official said.
The Biden administration has been stepping up diplomatic efforts to ensure that the transatlantic alliance opposing Russia’s invasion maintains unity.
“They will discuss every element of this conflict, including the situation on the battlefield and including the question of where the war is going from here,” the official said.
“The president doesn’t come with a message that is about pushing or pressuring Zelenskiy in any way. This is going to be a message of solidarity and support, coordination and alignment,” the official said.
The Biden administration has so far provided about $20 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, including artillery munitions and ammunition for NASAMS air defense systems and for High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
The supply of the Patriot missile battery is aimed at improving Ukraine’s air defenses against Russian missiles. Ukrainian forces will be trained in their use in a third country, the official said.
Reuters reported last week that Germany was the likely location for such training.
The two leaders discussed a possible visit in a Dec. 11 phone call and the White House three days later extended a formal invitation, the official said.
Zelenskiy accepted the invitation last Friday and the visit was confirmed on Sunday, the official said.
Biden has wanted to visit Ukraine, but security concerns have forced him to rule it out for now.
Indian Couple in France, Argentina Football Shirts (Image: ARUN CHANDRABOS)
Football fans in the southern Indian state of Kerala have always distinguished themselves by their love of football in a cricket-crazy country.
Indian Couple in France, Argentina Football Shirts (Image: ARUN CHANDRABOS)
Sunday was no different, as the state prepared to watch the final between Argentina and France.
Makeshift screens were set up across the state as Argentine and French flags flew in the streets as thousands of fans gathered to watch the game.
But one couple stood out in their devotion to the beautiful game. The wedding date of Sachin R and R Athira coincided with Sunday’s final. While they agreed on most things about their wedding, they didn’t want to compromise on which team they supported in the final.
Sachin is an ardent fan of Argentine star Lionel Messi, while Athira is a passionate supporter of the French soccer team.
Hours before the two teams met at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium in one of the most spectacular matches in World Cup history, they married in a ceremony held in the city of Kochi.
Over their jewelry and traditional wedding attire, the couple wore No. 10 jerseys: Athira wore one for French striker Kylian Mbappe, while Sachin wore Argentina’s colors for Messi.
Malayala newspaper Manorama reports that after their wedding ceremony, the couple ran through their reception and wedding party to return to Sachin’s home in Thiruvananthapuram 206 km (128 miles) away in time to see what turned out to be a sensational finale.
Argentina won the final in a 4-2 penalty shootout, giving the 35-year-old maestro Messi a chance to finally lift the World Cup trophy.
Kerala, where Messi has a large following, has been celebrating victory since Sunday night as fans waved Argentine flags and set off fireworks across the state.
In Thrissur, a hotel owner kept his promise to serve free biryani if Argentina won.
The state’s devotion to the game even caught FIFA’s attention last month when it tweeted about fans installing giant carboard statues of soccer stars in the state.
Brazilian star Neymar also noticed the statues and thanked his fans in the state.
Famous Iranian Actress Arrested After Supporting Protesters (Image: Taraneh Alidoosti)
Taraneh Alidoosti was jailed after expressing solidarity with a man recently executed for protests.
Famous Iranian Actress Arrested After Supporting Protesters (Image: Taraneh Alidoosti)
Iranian authorities have arrested one of the country’s most famous actresses accused of spreading falsehoods about the nationwide protests that gripped the country, state media said on Saturday.
The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) report said Taraneh Alidoosti, star of the Oscar-winning film The Salesman, was jailed a week after she made an Instagram post expressing solidarity with the first man recently executed for crimes allegedly committed during protests across the country.
IRNA also said several other Iranian celebrities had “been summoned by the judiciary for posting provocative content.”
He did not say how many or provide further details.
According to the report published on the state media’s official Telegram channel, Alidoosti was arrested because she did not provide “any documents in line with her claims.”
In her post, the 38-year-old actress said: “His name was Mohsen Shekari. Every international organization that is seeing this bloodshed and not taking action is a shame on humanity.”
Shekari was executed on 9 December after being accused by an Iranian court of blocking a Tehran street and attacking a member of the country’s security forces with a machete.
Speedy Death Sentences
Last week, Iran executed a second prisoner, Majidreza Rahnavard, in connection with the protests. Rahnavard’s body was left hanging from a construction crane as a warning to others. Iranian authorities alleged that Rahnavard stabbed two members of his paramilitary force.
Both men were executed less than a month after they were charged, underscoring the speed with which Iran is now carrying out death sentences imposed for alleged protest-related crimes. Activists have said at least a dozen people have been sentenced to death in closed-door hearings.
Alidoosti has made at least three posts on his Instagram account expressing solidarity with protesters since demonstrations erupted in September. His account, which had some eight million followers, has been suspended.
Iran has been rocked by protests since the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being jailed by the morality police. Since then, the protests have morphed into one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s governmental system, created after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Alidoosti has previously criticized the Iranian government and its police force.
In June 2020, he received a five-month suspended prison sentence after criticizing police on Twitter in 2018 for assaulting a woman who had removed her headscarf.
Other films Alidoosti has starred in include, The Beautiful City and About Elly.
Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi, two other famous actresses in Iran, were arrested by authorities for expressing solidarity with protesters on social media. Both have been released.
At least 495 people have been killed in demonstrations amid a harsh security crackdown, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group that has been monitoring the protests since they began.
More than 18,200 people have been detained by the authorities.
