تازہ ترین

SEATTLE: Three people were killed and four others, including a toddler, were wounded after gunfire erupted at a food festival in downtown Seattle, US authorities said. The shooting took place on Sunday evening at Seattle Center, where the annual Bite of Seattle food festival was being held. Police said one suspect was taken into custody following the incident. Investigators believe another person may have been involved and were searching for the second suspect. Seattle Police Department Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis said one of the injured victims later died in hospital. The death raised the confirmed toll to three. The four surviving victims were receiving medical treatment and were reported to be in stable condition. Witnesses said several gunshots were heard at around 6pm local time. The sound of gunfire caused panic at the busy festival, which had attracted visitors for food and entertainment. Police quickly responded to the scene and secured the area. Officers established a perimeter while emergency teams treated the injured and investigators began collecting evidence. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the victims. The circumstances that led to the shooting also remain under investigation. Officials are working to determine whether the incident was targeted or resulted from another dispute. Police have not yet provided a clear motive. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson condemned the shooting as a horrific act of violence. She expressed sympathy for the victims, their families and others affected by the incident. The shooting occurred during a public event intended to bring people together for food, culture and entertainment. The violence has therefore caused widespread shock among residents and festival attendees. Authorities are continuing their investigation and have urged anyone with information about the shooting to cooperate with investigators.

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s central bank governor Perry Warjiyo has unexpectedly stepped down, raising concerns among investors about the future independence of monetary policy and the stability of financial markets. President Prabowo Subianto accepted Warjiyo’s resignation on Monday. The government said the governor resigned for personal reasons. Destry Damayanti, a senior deputy governor at Bank Indonesia (BI), has been appointed interim governor. She has pledged to maintain continuity and ensure that the central bank continues carrying out its responsibilities. The surprise resignation came at a sensitive time for Indonesia’s economy. Bank Indonesia has faced growing pressure to support the government’s ambitious economic growth plans. The Indonesian rupiah has also faced significant pressure. It fell to a record low in June amid concerns over fiscal management and the independence of the central bank. Following news of Warjiyo’s departure, the rupiah weakened further. It fell as much as 0.36% to around 18,000 against the US dollar. Indonesia’s main stock index also moved between gains and losses during volatile trading. Analysts warned that the sudden leadership change could unsettle investors. Some economists said concerns could increase if the next permanent governor is seen as closely aligned with the government. They stressed that Bank Indonesia’s independence is important for maintaining investor confidence and stable monetary policy. Warjiyo submitted his resignation to the president on Saturday. Officials did not provide further details about his personal reasons. Warjiyo has spent decades at Bank Indonesia. He joined the institution in 1984 and was appointed governor for the first time in 2018. He was reappointed in 2023 for another five-year term. The appointment of his permanent successor will require both presidential and parliamentary approval. The president will nominate a candidate, who will then face a parliamentary suitability review before a final decision is made. The government has not yet submitted a permanent nomination. Officials have urged investors and other market participants to remain calm during the transition. They said the selection process would be conducted transparently and would not interfere with monetary policy or financial stability. Destry said the central bank would continue working to maintain rupiah stability and protect the country’s financial system. The leadership change comes after Indonesia introduced legislative changes affecting the central bank and other independent financial regulators. The new framework gives lawmakers greater authority to issue binding recommendations to these institutions. The changes have already raised questions about the level of Bank Indonesia’s independence. Credit rating agencies have also been monitoring developments surrounding the central bank’s mandate. Moody’s and Fitch previously highlighted concerns about changes to the institution’s role when they revised Indonesia’s credit outlook to negative. S&P Global Ratings, however, maintained a stable outlook this month. It said Bank Indonesia had maintained operational independence broadly comparable with other central banks in the region. Bank Indonesia has recently taken measures to support the rupiah and attract foreign investment. It unexpectedly kept interest rates unchanged last week while introducing new incentives aimed at encouraging capital inflows. The central bank had previously raised interest rates by a total of 100 basis points since May to support the currency. The latest resignation adds another layer of uncertainty for investors as the government seeks faster economic growth. Markets will now closely watch the selection of Warjiyo’s permanent successor. Investors are expected to assess whether the new leadership can maintain monetary stability while responding to the government’s economic priorities.

BERLIN: Germany is considering tougher rules for workers taking sick leave, but researchers warn that stricter requirements may not address the deeper reasons behind the country’s high absenteeism. German employees took an average of around 22 sick days in 2024. The figure is among the highest reported internationally. The government’s proposed changes are part of a wider effort to improve productivity. Germany is dealing with an ageing population and years of weak economic growth. Under the proposed changes, employers could require workers to provide a medical certificate from the first day of absence. Telephone-based sick notes could also be scrapped. However, researchers say the debate should focus on why workers are becoming ill rather than simply making it harder to take sick leave. Healthcare, education and social services are among the sectors reporting the highest levels of absenteeism. Workers in these fields often face heavy workloads. They also deal with staff shortages, emotional pressure and difficult working conditions. BKK data shows that women working in healthcare and social work took an average of 27 sick days in 2024. Teachers recorded around 24 days. The figures were lower in several other sectors. Workers in finance averaged about 18 days, while employees in communications recorded around 16 days. Researchers say mental health is an important part of the problem. Mental health-related cases represent a relatively small share of total sickness cases. However, they often result in much longer absences. Data from AOK shows that sick-leave days linked to mental health problems have increased by 47% since 2014. Mental health conditions are now one of the biggest causes of prolonged absence after respiratory illnesses. Experts say burnout and exhaustion can develop without reaching the level of a diagnosed mental disorder. Healthcare workers and teachers are particularly exposed to these pressures. They carry significant responsibilities while dealing with emotional and sometimes physical challenges. Teachers have reported violence and aggressive behaviour in schools. A 2024 survey found that almost half had experienced psychological or physical violence among pupils at their schools. More than one-third also reported feeling emotionally exhausted several times a week. Nursing faces similar difficulties. Germany has a shortage of healthcare workers, but studies indicate that wage growth has remained limited in some hospitals and public institutions. Researchers describe the situation as an imbalance between effort and reward. Workers face high demands but may receive relatively low pay, limited career opportunities and insufficient recognition. Studies have linked such conditions to mental health problems and long-term sickness absence. However, experts caution against blaming Germany’s absenteeism solely on workplace stress. Sick leave is affected by many factors. These include the age of the workforce, working conditions, social attitudes and differences in healthcare systems. Germany also has generous sick-pay provisions. Workers can generally receive full wages during the initial period of illness. Several other European countries, however, report even higher levels of sick leave among full-time employees. Researchers have also found little evidence of widespread abuse of sick-note rules. A study by DAK and the IGES Institute found that the sharp rise in recorded absences in 2022 was largely linked to improved electronic reporting and unusually high levels of respiratory infections and Covid-19. Sick-leave levels have since stabilised. Researchers also found no clear evidence that telephone sick notes introduced during the pandemic caused the increase. The government’s proposal has faced opposition from labour representatives. The Verdi services union has described the plan as creating a culture of distrust towards employees. Doctors have also warned that tougher certification requirements could put additional pressure on already busy medical practices. The government has defended its approach. It says employers would have the option of requiring certificates from the first day of illness while allowing companies to retain existing arrangements. The debate is therefore moving beyond the question of whether German workers take too many sick days. Researchers argue that reducing absenteeism in the long term may require better staffing, improved working conditions, stronger career prospects and greater support for workers facing emotional pressure.