Author: Steven Sahiounie

Germany’s interior minister has refuted opposition criticism that a “systemic failure” of government resulted in the high death toll in last week’s floods, saying “local knowledge” is the only way to manage such catastrophes. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Horst Seehofer rejected claims that the government hadn’t given enough warning before the devastating floods hit, resulting in a higher death toll. “It would be completely inconceivable for such a catastrophe to be managed centrally from any one place. You need local knowledge,” Seehofer stated. It’s not Berlin that declares a state of emergency, that is done locally. Seehofer’s comments came after…

Japanese composer Keigo Oyamada has pulled out of the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, amid controversy over decades-old interviews in which he boasted about physically and sexually bullying a disabled classmate. Oyamada, who goes by the stage name ‘Cornelius’, announced his resignation from the games’ opening ceremony via Twitter on Monday, stating that his participation “lacked consideration for various people.” Oyamada apologized last week after some damning interviews he gave to Japanese magazines in the 1990s resurfaced. In the interviews, Oyamada admitted to bullying classmates in high school, claiming that he beat and teased a disabled student, and forced him…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan an “occupation” that needs to stop, while brushing aside the militant movement’s warning about deployment of Turkish troops in Kabul. “The Taliban should end the occupation of the soil of their brothers,” the Turkish leader said on Monday during a press conference. He said the approach taken by the movement was not how Muslims brothers should treat each other. He also downplayed the Taliban’s negative reaction to the Turkish proposal to deploy additional troops to guard the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The strategic piece of Afghan infrastructure…

The number of positive Covid-19 infections has doubled overnight in Singapore, with cases linked to two hotspots. As the numbers tick upwards, restrictions have been reimposed just a week after they were eased. Singapore logged 163 new coronavirus cases on Monday, with 125 of those linked to two outbreaks in the city – at Jurong fishery port and a KTV karaoke lounge – and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung revealing that the two spreader events were linked. The overwhelming majority of cases, 106, are from the fishery port, and 19 from the karaoke venue. The health minister described the cluster of…

India’s highest court has ordered the release of a political activist arrested in May over a Facebook post claiming cow dung didn’t cure Covid-19 following a state politician’s death. On Monday, a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah deemed that the continued detention of Leichombam Erendro would be unlawful under the country’s constitution and a violation of his human rights. The Supreme Court justices ordered that Manipur prison authorities release the activist, who has been held for two months, before 5pm on Monday (10:30am GMT).  Erendro, who is the co-convenor of political outfit Peoples’ Resurgence and Justice Alliance,…

Healthcare workers should don some form of label identifying their Covid vaccination status, the head of Switzerland’s centrist Green Liberal Party has argued, while stressing that inoculation should remain voluntary. Swiss politicians have begun to explore ways to “incentivize” vaccine uptake, citing a decrease in the number of people lining up for the shot. Around 43% of Switzerland’s population is fully vaccinated, while 52% have received at least one dose of the drug. However, it appears the other half of the country is not in any rush to roll up its sleeves. Juerg Grossen, president of the Green Liberals, told local media…

As the corruption trial of former South African leader Jacob Zuma continues, many communities are still reeling from the devastating riots that followed his arrest. More than 200 people have died in the unrest. The corruption trial resumed in Pietermaritzburg on Monday. The charges against the former president stem from the 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats, and military gear from five European companies when he was deputy president. Zuma, 79, who ruled the country from 2009 to 2018, denies the allegations against him and says that the prosecution is politically motivated. The veteran politician turned himself over to…

After PM Naftali Bennett stoked tensions by saying Jews and Muslims had “freedom to worship” at Jerusalem’s holy site housing al-Aqsa mosque, his office has claimed that he meant both groups had “freedom of visitation rights.” The mosque, which is considered the third holiest shrine in Islam, is located in a place known as the Temple Mount to Israelis and Haram al-Sharif to Palestinians. According to the decades-old status quo, non-Muslims are forbidden to pray at the flashpoint compound located in the Old City – which is regarded as the holiest site in Judaism. Fresh clashes between Palestinians and Israeli…

The president of South Korea will not travel to Japan to have a summit with its prime minister during the Olympic Games. The decision was taken after a Japanese diplomat made a crude remark which has outraged the Korean public. A summit between South Korea’s Moon Jae-in and Japan’s Yoshihide Suga on the sidelines of the Olympic Games would have been the first face-to-face meeting of the two leaders. On Monday, the president’s office said plans for the event have been canceled because no positive result was expected to come out of it. Seoul and Tokyo had “meaningful discussions on progress…

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has announced that it will on Monday replace the Kaaba’s Kiswah. The Kiswah is designed annually by more than 200 specialized fabric workers. A new Kiswah will replace the old one, under the supervision of the Imam of the holy Two Mosques, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais, who emphasized the importance the king gives to the Kaaba. Close to 200 specialist fabric workers and managers are employed at the King Abdulaziz complex, where the Kiswah is designed. The complex includes numerous sections, such as management, quality control, public relations, and a…