The French foreign ministry summoned Pakistan’s envoy to protest claims by President Arif Alvi that a French bill cracking down on radical Islam stigmatises Muslims. “When you see that laws are being changed in favour of a majority to isolate a minority, that is a dangerous precedent,” Alvi said earlier. Referring to the bill drafted after the beheading of a French teacher over Prophet Muhammed cartoons, Alvi said: “When you insult the Prophet, you insult all Muslims. I urge the political leadership of France not to entrench these attitudes into laws... You have to bring people together - not to stamp a religion in a certain manner and create disharmony...”. The French foreign ministry said that raised its protest given that the bill contains “no discriminatory element.” “Pakistan must understand this and adopt a constructive attitude for bilateral relations,” it added.
Mom of two wins Miss Germany title
A 33-year-old mother of two was crowned Miss Germany in a revamped contest which organisers say focused on a woman’s conviction and personality rather than her looks, ditching the classic swimsuit walk. Dressed in a black trouser suit, Anja Kallenbach prevailed in the final of the “Empowering Authentic Women” contest. In the face of criticism that such contests are sexist and reinforce mysoginistic attitudes, other organisers, including those of Miss United States, have also dropped the swimsuit round. The Miss Germany organiser said the women aged between 18 and 39 needed to show that “they have a goal in mind and are committed to a better tomorrow”.
47 activists held in HK on charges of subversion
Hong Kong police detained 47 pro-democracy activists on charges of conspiracy to commit subversion under the city’s national security law, in the largest mass charge against the semi-autonomous Chinese territory’s opposition camp since the law came into effect last June. The former lawmakers had been previously arrested in a sweeping police operation in January but were released. They have been detained again and will appear in court, police said. They allegedly violated the national security law that was imposed by Beijing for participating in unofficial election primaries for Hong Kong’s legislature last year. The defendants include 39 men and eight women aged between 23 and 64, police said.
Japan appoints ‘loneliness minister’ to tackle suicides
Japan has appointed its first minister for loneliness this month after the country’s suicide rate increased for the first time in 11 years during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Japan Times, PM Yoshihide Suga added a minister of loneliness to his cabinet earlier this month, following the example of the UK, which in 2018 became the first country to do so. Suga tapped minister Tetsushi Sakamoto, who is also in charge of combating the nation’s falling birth rate and revitalising regional economies, for the new portfolio. In his inaugural press conference, Sakamoto said PM Suga appointed him to address national matters “including the issue of the increasing women’s suicide rate under the pandemic.” “Suga instructed me to examine the issue and put forward a comprehensive strategy, by coordinating with the related ministry... I hope to carry out activities to prevent social loneliness and isolation and to protect ties between people,” he added.
China man ordered to pay ex-wife $7,700
A Chinese man has been ordered to pay his ex-wife almost $8,000 for years of unpaid housework, in a landmark divorce case that has sparked furious debate in China. Under the country’s new civil code, which came into effect this year, divorcing spouses have the right for the first time to request compensation if they bore more responsibilities at home. Ex-wife Wang told the Beijing court that during five years of marriage she “looked after the child and managed household chores, while (her husband) Chen did not care”. The court ruled that Wang had indeed taken on more household responsibilities and should receive 50,000 yuan ($7,700) plus sole child custody and an additional 2,000 yuan in alimony per month.
Hindus support Black yoga teachers
Hindus of Greater Houston donated about $8,000 to fund yoga-teacher-training for four Black students. The death of George Floyd last year shocked the nation, inciting protests and a widespread movement for racial justice. The movement has influenced many, including Hindus of Greater Houston, to act. “When the movement for justice for those racial minority members of our communities escalated last summer, my kids came to me and said, ‘We need to do something,’” said Vijay Pallod, who is on the Board of Hindus of Greater Houston. Pallod took his children’s calls for action to heart and brainstormed with others for ways to help. Funding training for Black yoga teachers is an idea the Indian American came up with while in conversation with his friend Benny Tillman, the first African American president of the Vedic Friends Association, an international body that has embraced Vedic culture
Vox names Indian American as editor-in-chief
Co-founder and publisher of Vox Media Melissa Bell said that Swati Sharma has been named the editor-in-chief of the publication. Sharma, the managing editor at The Atlantic, joins Vox, an explanatory journalism network, during a moment of tremendous growth and will oversee its website’s editorial vision as the network reaches wider audiences in more places and in more formats than ever before, the release said. “Throughout her career, Swati has combined a deep respect for great journalism with a profound understanding for audience needs,” Bell said in a statement. “I’m so excited to have Swati working with Vox during this incredible moment of change for both us and our audiences. She brings an appreciation of Vox’s distinctive journalistic mission and proven experience leading teams to consistently produce their best work.”
Zimbabwe Vice President resigns amid sex scandal reports
Zimbabwean second Vice President Kembo Mohadi resigned on Monday following local media reports he had engaged in improper conduct, including accusations of sexual impropriety. Mohadi, 70, said in a letter shared by the information ministry he had decided to step down "not as a matter of cowardice but as a sign of demonstrating great respect to the office of the President." Local media reported he had improper sexual liaisons with married women, including one of his subordinates. He denied the accusations a week ago, saying it was of a political plot against him. "I'm a victim of information distortion, voice cloning and sponsored spooking and political sabotage," Mohadi said in the letter.
2nd ex-aide accuses NY guv of sexual harassment
A second former aide said she was sexually harassed by New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who responded with a statement saying he never made advances toward her and never intended to be inappropriate. Charlotte Bennett, a health policy adviser in the Democratic governor’s administration until November, said that Cuomo asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life, including whether she ever had sex with older men. Another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, recently accused Cuomo of subjecting her to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments. Cuomo denied the allegations. Cuomo said Bennett “has every right to speak out”. He said he had intended to be a mentor for Bennett, who is 25. “I never made advances... nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate,” Cuomo said.
Morocco, Namibia removed from EU list of tax havens
Morocco and Namibia have been removed from the European Union’s list of tax havens after successfully implementing reforms to bring their tax systems up to the EU’s required standards. In a statement, the EU, however, said the island nation of Seychelles, Botswana and Estawani are still on the list. The countries on this list "have refused to engage in dialogue with the EU or to address the shortcomings in good tax governance," the statement noted. In February last year, the EU granted Namibia and Morocco an extension to continue reforms already undertaken since 2019 to adapt their tax laws to the requirements of the institution. The deadline expired August 31 and December 31, 2020. With 11 other countries and territories, Brussels believes that Seychelles has a "major problem of transparency" in tax matters.
Latifa had urged UK police to reopen sis kidnap case
Sheikha Latifa, one of the daughters of the ruler of Dubai, had written to UK police asking them to reopen their probe into the kidnapping of her older sister from a street in Cambridge in 2000, the BBC reported. In a letter seen by the British broadcaster and dated 2018, Latifa asked Cambridge police to refocus on the case of her sister Shamsa, now 39, who was captured aged 18 and has not been seen in public since. Dubai’s media office did not respond to a request for comment.
German court issues guilty verdict in Syria torture trial
A German court sentenced a former member of President Bashar al-Assad’s security services to 4-1/2 years in prison for facilitating the torture of civilians, the first such verdict for crimes against humanity in the 10-year-old Syrian civil war. The higher regional court in the western city of Koblenz said Eyad A had arrested at least 30 anti-government protesters at the start of the conflict in 2011 and sent them to an intelligence facility where he knew detainees were tortured. The verdict gives hope to the 800,000 Syrians in Germany who say they were tortured in government facilities after attempts to establish an international tribunal for Syria failed. “This is an important step forward in the process of securing accountability for the Syrian government’s systematic use of torture against civilians,” said Steve Kostas, a lawyer with the Open Society Foundation, which is representing Syrian plaintiffs.
9 arrested for practicing homosexuality
Nine Cameroonians suspected of practicing homosexuality have been arrested in western Cameroon. Two of them are still in custody, a police officer said. "We arrested them to check if they are homosexuals," an officer in the town of Bafoussam said. Homosexual practices are prohibited in this Central African nation. The law provides for sentences ranging from 6 months to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 FCFA or 300 euros against anyone who has sex with someone of the same sex. Arrests for alleged homosexuals have dropped significantly in recent years in Cameroon, but they seem to be on the rise again recently, the officer said.
