TOKYO: The governor of Tokyo apologised to the Muslim world yesterday after saying Islamic countries have nothing in common but Allah and “fighting with each other”. Naoki Inose, whose city is bidding for the 2020 Olympic Games, was forced into the climbdown after telling the New York Times that Islamic nations are belligerent and overly hierarchical. The comments were seen as a slight on bidding rival Istanbul, which is vying to become the first city from the Muslim world to host the Games. “Islamic countries, the only thing they have in common is Allah and they are fighting with each other, and they have classes,” the governor was quoted as saying through an interpreter in the article published on Friday.After returning from New York, Inose initially defended his remarks, saying the article did not reflect his true opinions. “There were remarks that can lead to misunderstandings among Islamic people,” he told reporters.
Aquino coughing, but not sick
MANILA: He may be coughing and has caught a cold, but President Aquino is not slowing down. Malacanang was quick to clarify it was nothing more than a cold and the President has, in fact, been vibrant. “There is nothing wrong with the President. He is campaigning. He was very vibrant. In Brunei, we spent quite a long time with the President. He’s in the pink of health,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. Lacierda said the President had been actively campaigning and it was expected that he would catch a cold because he would go out in the heat outside and then stay in cold, air-conditioned cars or rooms.
China detains
19 after unrest
BEIJING: Chinese police have detained 19 people and seized homemade explosives and weapons following a bloody clash between residents and officials which killed 21 people last week in the restive region of Xinjiang, state media reported.AGENCIES
