In the World

EGYPT

4 journalists detained

Egypt's government has detained four journalists working for the Qatar-based Al Jazeera English news channel, arresting them during raids on a five-star hotel and at least one private residence Sunday night.

The four are accused of "harming national security" through links to the recently banned Muslim Brotherhood, an Interior Ministry statement said.

The arrests are the latest move in a crackdown on the Brotherhood, which the government has declared a "terrorist organization." - Washington Post
MYANMAR

Pardons issued

Reformist President Thein Sein granted a pardon Monday to people convicted of or charged with a variety of political offenses, an apparent effort to fulfill his pledge to free all political prisoners by year's end. It wasn't immediately clear how many people would be affected. - AP

BERLIN

Leaving again

Switzerland has granted former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky a visa. He had applied shortly after his Dec. 20 arrival in Berlin from Russia, where he was pardoned and released from prison after a decade. - AP