Germany announced on Sunday that it was invoking emergency powers to start protecting its borders, seemingly reaching a point of overload after greeting with open arms tens of thousands of migrants pouring into Europe, and urging other European nations to do the same. At a news conference, Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière announced that Germany would temporarily enforce measures that would block people at its borders. The announcement followed a meeting to discuss the refugee crisis, after the flood of people from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other troubled areas into Munich and other Eastern German cities continued unabated for the second weekend in a row. A total of 12,200 migrants came to Munich on Saturday, according to the German police.
28 refugees killed as boat capsizes
The toll in the Sunday tragedy involving the sinking of a boat carrying undocumented migrants from Turkey to Greece has reached 28. As a rescue operation to locate a yet-unclear number of missing was underway, Greek authorities said they have so far retrieved the bodies of at least four babies and ten children. Survivors have told Greek Coast Guard that about 120 people were on board the boat. According to the latest official estimates, more than 230,000 refugees and migrants have reached Greece's shores from the start of 2015.
Three detained in Malaysia for Bangkok blast
Malaysia’s police chief said a Pakistani and two Malaysians have been detained in connection with last month’s bombing of a shrine in Bangkok that killed 20 people. Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar told on Monday that the three were detained a few days ago following a tipoff from Thai authorities. The August 17 blast at the Erawan Shrine in the Thai capital killed 20, including five Malaysians from one family, and injured more than 120.
Tourists accidentally killed by Egyptian forces
At least two Mexicans and 10 others have died after their vehicles were accidentally attacked by Egyptian security forces in the country’s western desert. The Egyptian interior ministry said a joint policy and military force was chasing terrorists in the area when it accidentally engaged four four-wheel drives belonging to a Mexican tourist group. It said 12 had been killed and 10 injured in the shooting, understood to have taken place at the Bahariya oasis around 4pm on Sunday.
Abbott will face leadership challenge
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was asked to step down by two top ministers, including Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Monday. Malcolm Turnbull reportedly called a news conference at Parliament House in Canberra, the Australian capital on Monday. Turnbull announced his resignation, saying that he was declaring a challenge to Abbott for the Liberal party leadership. Turnbull said that Abbott “has not been capable of providing the economic leadership,” and he “has not been capable of providing the economic confidence that business needs”.