News Headlines - 16 February 2021

▽Police to probe Aichi governor recall petition for alleged fraud : The Asahi Shimbun

The Aichi prefectural election administration commission filed a criminal complaint with police on Feb. 15 over scores of dubious signatures found on a petition to recall Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura.
At an emergency meeting that day, the commission concluded that it should act against the suspected forgery of massive numbers of signatures, saying the fraud violated the local autonomy law.
Prefectural police accepted the complaint and will launch an investigation into the matter.

▽Trial for Suu Kyi begins in secret

The closed-door trial began in secret, with the two defendants appearing by video. The defence attorney wasn’t even aware what was happening. By the time he rushed to the court on Tuesday afternoon, it was all over, in less than an hour.
The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s civilian leader who was ousted in a military coup two weeks ago, and Win Myint, the deposed president, began on Tuesday. They face obscure charges that could land them in prison for six years and three years respectively.

▽Princess Latifa: 'Hostage' ordeal of Dubai ruler's daughter revealed - BBC News

The daughter of Dubai's ruler who tried to flee the country in 2018 later sent secret video messages to friends accusing her father of holding her "hostage" as she feared for her life.
In footage shared with BBC Panorama, Princess Latifa Al Maktoum says commandos drugged her as she fled by boat and flew her back to detention.
The secret messages have stopped - and friends are urging the UN to step in.

▽Ice skaters urged to stay off Europe's thawing lakes - BBC News

Days of sub-zero temperatures saw not only parts of northern Europe covered in snow but also the freezing of many lakes, ponds and canals... There were a number of incidents across Germany at the weekend where people fell through the ice, including a couple who were skating.

▽Mischievous cat steals Dean of Canterbury´s pancakes | Daily Mail Online

A cathedral cat with a taste for fame has made a nuisance of himself once again - this time by tucking into a plate of pancakes during the morning prayer.
Tiger the cat is seen nuzzling the Dean of Canterbury as he reads a sermon on camera before losing interest and turning his gaze elsewhere.
He spots something interesting on a nearby table - pancakes.