Author Taslima Nasreen took a dig at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan following his comments on victims of sexual violence. In an interview, Khan had said that if women wear ‘very few clothes, it will have an impact on men, unless they are robots. I mean, it is common sense’. Posting an old photo of a shirtless Imran Khan, Nasreen tweeted: If a man is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on women, unless they are robots. Khan’s remarks on women and purdah system have sparked outrage on social media and among rights activists. He further went on to justify how this “cultural imperialism” works and said, “Whatever is acceptable in our culture, must be accepted everywhere else. It’s not.” Incidences of rape and sexual violence are spreading “like cancer” in society, he said. Imran also blamed “vulgarity in the society” behind divorce rates going up “by as much as 70 per cent”.
Militants kill 5 Pak soldiers
Pakistan’s military said that suspected militants had ambushed and shot dead five soldiers in the province of Balochistan, where insurgent have stepped up attacks this year. The military said the attackers opened fire on soldiers in the area of Sangan and had yet to be identified. A search operation is also in progress to block the escape routes of the terrorists, said the Inter-Services Public Relations. Interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed condemned the attack. “Terrorists cannot demoralise us by carrying out such cowardly attacks,” he said. Balochistan, the focal point of China’s $60 billion Belt and Road development programme, has for years struggled with insurgents including Baloch separatists, the Taliban and Islamic State, who have targeted the military as well as projects involving foreign investors.
HK’s pro-democracy paper forced to shut down
Hong Kong’s sole pro-democracy newspaper was forced to shut down after five editors and executives were arrested and millions of dollars in its assets were frozen as part of China’s increasing crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city. The board of directors of Apple Daily parent company Next Media said in a statement that the print and online editions will cease due to “the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong”. The silencing of a prominent pro-democracy voice is the latest sign of China’s determination to exert greater control over the city long known for its freedoms after huge anti-government protests there in 2019 shook the government. Since then, Beijing has imposed a strict security law - used in the arrests of the newspaper employees - and revamped Hong Kong’s election laws to keep opposition voices out of the legislature.
Philippine president's controversial remark
Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has issued a warning to Filipinos, saying those who do not get vaccinated against Covid-19 will be arrested. But his warning came along with a controversial remark that is bound to raise eyebrows. “Go to India if you want or somewhere, to America,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong. There is a crisis being faced in this country. There is a national emergency. If you don’t want to get vaccinated, I will have you arrested. And I will inject the vaccine in your butt. You are pests. We are already suffering and you’re adding to the burden,” Duterte was quoted as saying. “So, all you Filipinos listening, watch out. Don’t force my hand into it… I have a strong arm for that. Nobody likes it. But if you won’t get vaccinated, leave the Philippines. Go to India if you want or somewhere - to America,” Duterte, known for his controversial remarks, said.
Ashgabat is world’s costliest city for expats
Ashgabat in Turkmenistan is the most expensive city in the world for overseas workers, according to this year’s Mercer Cost of Living Survey. The two other cities following Ashgabat are Hong Kong and Beirut. The annual report ranks 209 cities based on the comparative cost of expenses including housing, transportation, food and entertainment, with New York City used as a baseline comparison. The Turkmenistan capital, which was number two on last year’s list, is something of an outlier in the top 10, which has usually seen on top business hubs like Hong Kong (priciest last year), Tokyo (number four for 2021), Zurich (number five for 2021) and Singapore (number seven for 2021). Turkmenistan’s ongoing financial crisis, which has led to food shortages and hyperinflation, is cited by Mercer as the reason why Ashgabat’s cost of living has risen over the past couple of years.
Same surname for Japanese couples
Japan’s Supreme Court ruled as constitutional a law that forces married couples to share the same family name, upholding provisions of a 19th century family registration system that critics contend promotes gender bias. The court ruled against a petition brought by three Tokyo couples who tried to submit marriage applications using separate surnames and claimed their inability to do so was a breach of their right to equality under the law enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution. The court said lawmakers should debate the matter in parliament. Members of PM Yoshihide Suga’s conservative ruling party, including gender equality minister, have backed the law, which they say supports family unity.
S African nations to send troops to Mozambique
Countries in Southern Africa have agreed to deploy forces to help quell a bloody jihadist insurgency wreaking havoc in northern Mozambique over the past three years. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc "approved" the deployment of the "SADC Standby Force in support of Mozambique to combat of terrorism and acts of violent extremism in Cabo Delgado," the bloc's executive secretary Stergomena Tax said at the end of a summit. She did not give details of the strength or the timeline of the deployment. A document leaked earlier this year recommended sending around 3,000 soldiers to Cabo Delgado province, where insurgents have seized control of towns and villages, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. The violence has escalated in the gas-rich north of Mozambique since breaking out in late 2017 and there are fears it could spill over into neighbouring countries.
Life sentence for Ivory Coast ex-PM
Former Ivorian Prime Minister and ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro was sentenced in his absence in Abidjan to life in prison for "undermining state security" for acts committed in late 2019. The Abidjan court of assizes followed the prosecution's demands, as for the other main defendants, Souleymane Kamagate, former head of protocol of Soro, Affoussy Bamba, former minister and Toure Moussa, his former head of communication, sentenced to 20 years in prison. Two of Soro's brothers and his former right-hand man Alain Lobognon were sentenced to 17 months in prison for "disturbing public order". The court also ordered the confiscation of the property of Soro and his 19 co-defendants, as well as the dissolution of his movement, Générations et peuples solidaires (GPS), accused of engaging in "subversive" acts. It ordered the convicts to pay 150 million euros jointly to the Ivorian state.
Nigeria's President heads to London for medical visit
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to London for a medical check-up, his office said, three months after a previous trip caused an outcry in the country. Buhari, 78, has flown to London several times for health reasons since he was first elected in 2015, though the nature of his ailment has never been made public. "Muhammadu Buhari will proceed to London (on Friday) for a scheduled medical follow-up," said presidential advisor Femi Adesina. "He is due back in the country during the second week of July," Adesina added in a statement. The president's health was hotly debated before the last election in 2019 when the opposition claimed he was not physically fit to govern - but Buhari won a second term. The former army general visited London for check-ups in 2016 and 2017, saying he had "never been so ill" and that he had received several blood transfusions.
Close shave for Colombia president
President Ivan Duque of Colombia said he was aboard a helicopter that was shot at in an attack that left bullet holes in the jet. None of the flyers, including several ministers, were killed, Duque said in a video just after the attack. He did not say whether anyone had been injured. Authorities did not say who they thought was responsible for the assault, which took place near the border with Venezuela. Duque said the “cowardly” attack would not make him stop fighting drug trafficking, terrorism and organised crime.
Warren Buffett resigns from Gates Foundation
Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, said that he had resigned as a trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The announcement comes weeks after Bill and Melinda Gates announced their divorce. Buffett, a longtime friend of Bill Gates, had been a huge presence at the Gates Foundation: It is one of five non-profits to which he has pledged the majority of his fortune - estimated at $105.3 billion, - and the only one not run by a member of the Buffett family. Buffett, 90, has donated $41 billion worth of Berkshire stock to the five foundations. About $31 billion was given to the Gates Foundation in 2006. Buffett gave no reason for stepping down, but questions have been raised about the structure of its leadership after reports of Bill Gates’ behaviour in the workplace.
Abu Dhabi offers free jab to tourists
The capital of the UAE has apparently started offering free vaccines to tourists flying into the emirate, a move that could entice travellers. While Abu Dhabi has made no official announcement on the matter, the health authority’s phone application showed updated criteria for vaccine access, saying visitors to the capital could now get the shot by presenting their passports.
Moscow imposes strict virus curbs
Moscow’s mayor ordered bars and restaurants to serve people only if they have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or had had an infection indicating immunity. Residents will be required to present a QR-code showing they have either been vaccinated, had a Covid-19 infection within the past 6 months, or tested negative within the last 3 days. The new curbs comes amid rise in cases due to Delta variant.
China border curbs to remain till 2022
China plans to keep pandemic border restrictions in place for at least another year amid fears over the emergence of new variants and a calendar of sensitive events, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The provisional timeline for the second half of 2022 was set during a meeting of China’s cabinet, or State Council, in mid-May, the WSJ said.
Finland, ‘world’s happiest nation’, in need of migrants
Repeatedly dubbed the happiest nation with world-beating living standards, Finland should be deluged by people wanting to relocate, but in fact it faces an acute workforce shortage. “It’s now widely acknowledged that we need a spectacular number of people to come to the country,” recruiter Saku Tihverainen said. Workers are needed “to help cover the cost of the greying generation”, he said. The government has warned that the nation of 5.5 million needs to practically double immigration levels to 20,000-30,000 a year to maintain public services. Finland may seem like an attractive destination, but anti-immigrant sentiment is also widespread. But Helsinki mayor Vapaavuori is optimistic about Finland’s ability to attract talent from Asia in future, and believes priorities will have changed post-coronavirus.
