German centre-right politician Jens Spahn has resigned as parliamentary group leader of the country’s governing coalition after being accused of hypocrisy over his use of a surrogate mother in the US to have a child. Surrogacy is prohibited in Germany – a policy backed by his Christian Democrat party (CDU) and, several years ago, by Spahn himself – although raising a child born to a surrogate mother abroad is not. He wrote in a statement on Saturday: “I have realised that my personal happiness – founding a family together with my husband and becoming a father – is not compatible…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
Around 300 protesters clashed with riot police in Venice on Friday evening over the arrival of US ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta’s $450 million mega yacht Boardwalk during the city’s annual Redentore (Redeemer) festival, police said. Fertitta, a close ally of and donor to US President Donald Trump, has been cruising around Italy this summer with his family and some staff on his private yacht as part of what he calls a “coastal diplomacy” effort to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, according to his social media. His arrival was greeted in Venice by protesters holding signs saying “Venice is…
Two US service members were killed and one is missing in action, US Central Command announced Saturday, marking the first American military fatalities in the Iran war since March, as attacks between the two countries have escalated. “On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing in action,” CENTCOM said in a social media post. Four additional American service members were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan but have since been discharged, according…
In a social media landscape dominated by trends, algorithms, and constant competition for attention, authenticity has become one of the most valuable qualities a creator can possess. For Vietnamese content creator Nguyen The Hoang, authenticity is not simply a content strategy. It is the foundation of a growing digital community built on trust, transparency, and genuine human connection. With more than 321,000 followers and over 2.6 million likes on TikTok, Hoang has become part of a new generation of creators who are proving that long-term influence is often built through consistency rather than virality. In Vietnam’s rapidly growing creator economy,…
The National Police Service (NPS) Friday dismissed claims circulating on social media alleging incidents of rape and deaths during the recently concluded Ol Kalou Constituency by-election, saying no such cases were reported before, during or after the voting process. In a statement, Central Region Regional Police Commander Geoffrey Maiyek said the by-election was conducted peacefully, thanking residents of Ol Kalou for exercising their democratic rights in a free, fair and orderly environment. Maiyek also commended police officers deployed to secure the exercise, praising them for carrying out their duties professionally, with dignity and dedication. He further acknowledged the leadership of…
The Japanese parliament has approved a bill to relax imperial succession rules, amid concerns over the dwindling size of the imperial family. The bill, passed by the upper house on Friday, allows the imperial family to adopt distant male relatives over the age of 15 and lets women keep their royal status after marrying outside the family. But it does not change the law barring women from ascending the throne despite wide public support for a female emperor, meaning Princess Aiko, the only child of the current emperor, is still not eligible to succeed the throne. The bill cleared the…
Red Bull have reverted to a conventional rear wing for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix after four-time world champion Max Verstappen suffered successive high-speed crashes in Austria and Britain. The Dutch driver slammed the behaviour of his car’s wing at Silverstone as “super-dangerous” after he crashed out while chasing third place. “We’ll go back to the old one and then see whenever the latest, or new one, is ready again to be used for us,” he said at Spa-Francorchamps on Thursday. Ferrari, and then Red Bull, have caught eyes with a novel ‘Macarena’ rear wing that features a top flap rotating…
Nigeria has completed the voluntary evacuation of 1,490 citizens from South Africa following a series of xenophobic attacks, its foreign ministry said on Thursday, with the latest flight bringing 305 returnees home from Johannesburg. Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said a fifth evacuation flight carrying 305 returnees and two government officials arrived in Lagos on July 15. The governmentsaid the evacuation followed talks with South African authorities over security concerns linked to xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians. Nigeria has condemned violence against its citizens in South Africa, including the deaths of at least two nationals allegedly assaulted by…
The Government’s ongoing reforms to make national identification documents more accessible are helping to eliminate barriers that have historically locked many Kenyans out of government services, development opportunities and democratic participation, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr. Raymond Omollo has said. Dr. Omollo said President William Ruto had directed that all eligible Kenyans be facilitated to obtain identification documents without unnecessary obstacles. The PS said the Ministry of Interior and National Administration is implementing the directive fairly and without discrimination to ensure every Kenyan can access government services and participate fully in national development. “Access to identification…
US President Donald Trump has delivered a primetime address in which he accused China of interfering in the 2020 election and alleged “shocking vulnerabilities” in American voting systems. Trump, who spoke from the White House on Thursday, has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud and foreign meddling in the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden. In the half-hour speech, delivered three months before the midterm elections, he said he had declassified hundreds of intelligence files which supported his claims that Beijing had tried to sway the election in Biden’s favour. The US intelligence community has previously concluded…
Irish actress Brenda Fricker, who won an Oscar for her role in 1989 film My Left Foot and had well-loved parts in Home Alone 2 and TV’s Casualty, has died at the age of 81. Fricker won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 1990 for playing Daniel Day-Lewis’s on-screen mother in My Left Foot. She played nurse Megan Roach in the BBC’s Casualty from 1986, making her final appearance in 2010; and was the Central Park pigeon lady in 1992’s Home Alone sequel. In a statement, her agent Phil Belfield said: “We will never see her like again and…
Four Republican members of Congress have accused Canada of failing to do enough to prevent wildfire smoke drifting into the US. In a joint letter add ressed to the Canadian prime minister, the Michigan lawmakers claimed “continued inaction” from Canada was “unacceptable.” Canadian leader Mark Carney did not respond directly to the claims, but said that both countries had a responsibility to fight climate change. As of Friday, there were more than 890 fires actively burning in Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System – with the majority burning out of control. According to the Canadian Wildland Fire…
Home maintenance is an ongoing challenge, requiring attention to a diverse range of issues. Among these, plumbing repairs often demand urgent attention and expert intervention. Whether it’s a leaky faucet or a complex sewer line problem, homeowners need reliable solutions. This article explores how hiring Rock Hill Plumbers can ensure efficient home repairs, saving both time and money. We’ll delve into their expertise, time management, cost-effectiveness, and the long-term benefits of professional plumbing solutions. Rock Hill Plumbers Deliver Expertise for Home Repairs Expertise is crucial when dealing with plumbing issues. Rock Hill Plumbers possess specialized knowledge and experience that can make a…
Hiring a fencing company is not only about choosing cedar, steel or chain link. The contractor also needs to understand Austin’s fence rules, local soil, property access, utility marking, payment stages and the way the fence will be maintained after installation. This applies to homeowners, landlords and commercial property managers. Residential and commercial projects have different goals, but both become expensive when the quote is vague. This guide covers five checks to make before hiring a fencing company in Austin. The second half highlights three local options for different needs: Purple Fencing for residential fencing, True Built Fence for commercial…
At least one person died in flooding across central Texas – the same area that saw more than 130 deaths in flash floods last summer. “Large and deadly” flooding from the Guadalupe River is expected to ravage the region, following days of torrential rain, the National Weather Service in San Antonio reported. Last year’s flash floods originated from the same river. Early Thursday morning, emergency officials were encouraging residents in the area to evacuate. More than 130 people died in last summer’s floods, including 25 children and two counsellors at Camp Mystic, an all-girls camp near Kerrville, Texas, located along…