BEIJING: The Chinese feel Taiwan's new President Tsai Ing-wen practices "emotional" and "extreme" politics because she is a single woman without children. Wang Weixing, a militart analyst and board member of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits echoed the country's views on the change of leadership by saying, "As a single female politician, she is unburdened by love, and lacks the contraint of family or concern for children. In political style and strategy, often she tends to be emotional, personal, and extreme. In terms of political tricks, she considers strategy less, tactical details more,and short-tem goals are paramount, while long-term goals are less taken into account." The verbal attack cane days after Taiwan's first female president took oath of office at the presidential palace in Taipei. Beijing is wary of Tsai and has warned her against any attempt at a breakaway.
'Light beating' for wives allowed by CII
ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology has proposed its own Women Protection Bill in a bizarre moment, recommending a "light beating" for the wife in case she somehow defies her husband. The council has suggested that a husband should be allowed to beat his wife lightly if she defies his commands, refuses to dress up as per her desires, turns down the demand of intercourse without any religious excuse or does not take bath after intercourse or menstrual periods. It has also suggested that beating is also permissible if a woman does not observe Hijab, interacts with strangers, speaks loud enough that she can be easily be heard by strangers and provides monetary support to the people without taking consent of her spouse. The bill is said to be drafted by Mufti Imdadullah, a JUI-F member. The three-member delegation of Justice Manzoor Hussain Gilani, Noor Ahmed Shahtaz, and Muhammad Abdullah has raised objections on many of the clauses and urged the chairman to moderate the same.
Village pays £200,000 fine, won't accept refugees
OBERWIL-LIELI: A village in Switzerland chose to pay a fine of £200,000, rather than accepting its country's imposed quota of ten refugees. One of the wealthiest villages in Europe, Oberwil-Lieli voted 'No' in a referendum over whether to accept the refugees. A resident said, "We do not want them here it is as simple as that. We have worked hard all our lives and have a lovely village and that we do not want it spoiled. We are not suited to take in refugees. They would not fit in here." The government had proposed a quota system across its 26 countries to keep up with the instalments of refugees. With a population of 2200, including 300 millionaires, Oberwil-Lieli rejected the referendum by 52 per cent to 48. As their move was deemed as being racist, the mayor if the village denied the claims. "We were not to be told if the 10 were from Syria or if they are economic migrants from other countries."
Buy your sex slaves from the IS
WASHINGTON: "To all the bros thinking about buying a slave, this one is $8000," read a Facebook post with a picture of girl attributed to an Islamic State fighter called Abu Assad Almani. In a bid to raise funds, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is apparently selling its sex slaves online, mostly young Yazidi girls who have been captured and kept as slaves by the terrorist outfit. The same man also posted another image with a caption that read, "Another sabiyah [slave], also about $8000. Yay, or nay?" The worst part of the incident was that the man's friends, instead of condemning his action, began to haggle with the price and mock the girls' looks. The photos were taken off the internet once it gained media attention. The IS has been selling the women from fighter to fighter, exposing them to brutal and harsh treatments. In August last year, the UN said it obtained a hard copy of the Islamic State’s sex price list, alleging jihadist fighters can get children aged 1 to 9 for about $165, adolescent girls for $124 and women over 40 for as little as $41.
Former Maldives president given UK asylum
LONDON: Former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed has been granted refugee status in the UK, as per his lawyer Hasan Latheef. The opposition leader who was controversially jailed for 13 years under anti-terror laws last year, was allowed to travel to the UK to receive treatment for his ailing back. The Maldives government reacted swiftly, accusing Nasheed—whose legal team includes the high-profile human rights lawyer Amal Clooney—of trying to avoid serving his prison sentence. “The government of the Maldives is disappointed, if confirmed, that the UK government is allowing itself to be part of this charade, and further, is enabling an individual to circumvent his obligations under the law,” it said in a statement. Nasheed's office also released a statement saying, "Given the slide towards authoritarianism in the Maldives, myself and other opposition politicians feel we have no choice but to work in exile- for now."
Nepalese soldier wins world's highest marathon on Mount Everest
KATHMANDU: Bed Bahadur Sunuwar, a Nepalese soldier has won the world's highest marathon in the foothills of Mount Everest. Taking part in the 14th edition of the Tenzing Hillary Everest marathon, the 29 year old completed the 42 km run in four hours and 10 seconds, ending 2000m further down the slopes. "The route is very challenging but amazing too. I feel proud to be the winner." The annual event initiated in 2003, to mark the anniversary of the conquering of the Everest by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953, saw runners from Britain, US, Australia, and China. After a striking event despite the after-effects of the earthquake, organiser Bikram Pandey seemed happy with the outcome. "The earthquake dampened the race last year, but we have seen a significant increase in the number of participants this year."
Thailand speedboat capsize: Body of Jason Parnell found
KOH SAMUI: Body of Briton Jason Parnell, who had gone missing after a speedboat capsized near an island in Thailand, has been found. The Foreign Office has confirmed finding his body trapped between rocks. A boat carrying 32 tourists and four crew members, capsized last week because of strong winds and high waves, said Pichet Sudduan, a port official. A Briton and German were found dead at the scene. The vehicle was on its way back to the popular island of Koh Samui, from Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park on Ko Pha Ngan island. Parnell, 46, was in Thailand to celebrate his first wedding anniversary with his wife. The boat's captain, Sanan Seekakiaw, is being held by police for investigation and faces a possible charge of reckless endangerment causing death, punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment.
UK citizen Minh Quang Pham jailed for Heathrow suicide plot
NEW YORK: A British citizen has been prosecuted by a US court for plotting to carry out a suicide bomb attack at Heathrow Airport. 33 year old Minh Quang Pham is sentenced for 40 years, in New York for supporting Al-Qaeda in 2011. Pham admitted three courts of terrorist-related activity based on his support. Pham travelled to Yemen in December 2010 to receive military training from Al-Qaeda, a group that has claimed repeated attacks on the West. The court heard how he had used his fluent English and graphic design skills to work for Inspire, the group's magazine read by extremists in the West, including the brothers behind the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. He later returned to Britain in July 2011 after offering to carry out a suicide attack. "I made a very serious mistake," Pham told Judge Alison Nathan. "I do regret it. I'm not used to the American system and the severity of the sentence," he added.
