Iran Seizes Boat in the Strait of Hormuz, Arrests Filipinos
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MOHARRAM 9, 1441 AH SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2019 Max 44º 28 Pages Min 31º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17926 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Interior in full gear as Arab Spring cradle: Tunisian Hurricane Dorian death Nadal chases 19th Slam crown 36students start school youth dream of ‘real leader’ 24 toll hits 43 in Bahamas 28 against Medvedev at US Open Iran seizes boat in the Strait of Hormuz, arrests Filipinos Tehran fires up advanced centrifuges in latest nuclear step TEHRAN: Iran seized a boat and arrested 12 Filipinos as it busted a “fuel-smuggling ring” in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, the semi-official news agency ISNA reported. “A foreign tugboat was confiscated as well as 283,900 liters (75,000 gallons) of petrol worth 233.71 billion rials (about $2 million),” ISNA said, citing the coast guard chief in the southern province of Hormozgan. “Twelve Philippine nationals were arrested and the relevant judiciary officials are currently taking the required legal measures,” Major Hossein Dehaki was quoted as saying. Dehaki said the group was suspected of operating a fuel-smuggling ring and the confiscated Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe shipment had been intercepted close to Sirik county in the Strait of Hormuz. The seizure comes amid tensions in the Gulf after the United States unilaterally withdrew from a nuclear deal putting curbs on Iran’s nuclear pro- Zimbabweans gram in return for relief from sanctions. The escalation has seen ships mysteriously mourn Mugabe attacked, drones downed and oil tankers seized in the Strait of Hormuz - a chokepoint for a third of world’s BANDAR ABBAS, Iran: An image grab taken from a broadcast by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) HARARE: Zimbabweans yesterday mourned the seaborne oil. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard shows what they say is the boat of a fuel-smuggling ring in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran seized and arrest- death of their founding father Robert Mugabe, Corps detained a “foreign tanker” in Gulf waters on ed the Filippino crew on board. — AFP but there was confusion over when his body July 14 for allegedly smuggling contraband fuel. “With would be returned from abroad for burial, two a capacity of two million liters and 12 foreign crew on years after he was toppled in a coup. Mugabe board, the vessel was en route to deliver contraband the Panamanian-flagged MT Riah, used in the strait for seizure, the Guards impounded the British-flagged died on Friday aged 95 in Singapore, where he fuel received from Iranian boats to foreign ships,” the fuelling other vessels, had crossed into Iranian waters, Stena Impero tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on July 19 had long received medical treatment. Guards said at the time. and at that point its automatic identification system for breaking “international maritime rules”. He was one of the most polarizing figures in Maritime tracking service TankerTrackers reported stopped sending signals. In the most high-profile Continued on Page 24 African history, a giant of national liberation movements whose 37-year rule ended in ignominy when he was overthrown by his own giant had hoped to become just the fourth army in November 2017. President Emmerson India loses country after the United States, Russia and Mnangagwa, who worked closely with Mugabe regional rival China to make a successful for decades before helping oust him, granted him Moon landing, and the first on the lunar the status of national hero on Friday, while trib- contact with South Pole. But in the early hours of yester- utes poured in from leaders across the continent. day, as Modi looked on and millions Mugabe’s body was initially expected to arrive Moon lander watched nationwide with bated breath, the in South Africa early yesterday before flying on Vikram lander-named after the father of to Zimbabwe. But there was still no word yester- BANGALORE: India’s space program suf- India’s space program-went silent just 2.1 day afternoon that the body had left Singapore. fered a huge setback yesterday after los- kilometers above the lunar surface. There were no major public events to mark ing contact with an unmanned spacecraft Its descent had been going “as planned Mugabe’s passing in the capital Harare. Residents moments before it was due to make a his- and normal performance was observed”, expressed a mix of sadness at the former presi- toric soft landing on the Moon. Prime Indian Space Research Organization dent’s death and frustration that their daily hard- Minister Narendra Modi sought to com- (ISRO) chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan said. ships had not relented since he left power. fort glum scientists and a stunned nation “Subsequently the communication from the Continued on Page 24 from mission control in Bangalore, saying lander to the ground station was lost,” he India was still “proud” and clasping the said after initial applause turned to bewil- visibly emotional space agency head in a derment at the operations room. “The data BANGALORE: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre right) speaks with lengthy hug. is being analyzed.” Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientists at the ISRO headquarters in ‘Electronic armies’ Blasting off in July, the emerging Asian Continued on Page 24 Bangalore. — AFP threaten activists was to find alternatives to plastic packaging Like meat, but - but the company then applied the same and media in Iraq technique to make a leather substitute, and is now moving onto a meat alternative. not meat - the “You can grow a mushroom into a BAGHDAD: Iraqi journalists, activists and researchers unique form” by changing its growing are facing a wave of accusations and threats by shad- latest tech environment, says co-founder Gavin owy online groups they suspect are linked to powerful McIntyre. Once mature, the mushroom pro-Iran factions. Parties, armed groups and even offi- SAN FRANCISCO: Meaty mushrooms, “has the structure and texture to simulate cials in Iraq benefit from legions of supporters dubbed printed ‘steaks’ and NASA discoveries - the whole cut meat” - not just burgers and “electronic armies,” which take to social media to latest array of meat alternatives has been sausages - and can be a “blank canvas” for anonymously sing their praises or mock their detractors. showcased at the Good Food Conference in other ingredients to add taste and nutri- These online rivalries now appear to have been San Francisco. At various stages of produc- ents. The company is seeking partners to fanned by months of rising tensions pitting Iran against tion, here are a few of the ideas gaining develop its product. the US and Israel. This summer, suspicious explosions attention as producers and investors focus Italian technology entrepreneur hit five camps and arms depots run by Iraq’s Hashed Al- on the booming vegetarian sector. Giuseppe Scionti was a university special- Shaabi, a network of mostly Shiite armed factions The Ecovative company was founded in ist in tissue engineering, who worked on linked to Iran. The Hashed was quick to blame Israel New York in 2007 to develop bio-degrad- creating human tissue using a three- SAN FRANCISCO: Amadeus Driando Ahnan, cofounder of the start up company and the United States, but also said it suspected able packaging made from mycelium, the dimensional printer. Better Nature, displays some of his products on his stand at the Good Food “agents” of the two countries contributed to the root structure of mushrooms. That project Continued on Page 24 Institute’s conference promoting plant-based and cell-based meat. — AFP attacks. That accusation was followed by an online campaign accusing a broad range of Iraqi nationals of “collabo- rating” with Israel and the US. One graphic shared by tions among the more than two billion users an Arabic-language page named “Don’t Tread on Us” Facebook rolls of the social network worldwide. “Facebook accused 14 Iraqis of de facto supporting a policy of Dating allows you to match with friends of “normalization with Israel.” Shared on social media, it friends and/or people not in your friend named figures such as journalist Joumana Mumtaz and out dating circle,” said a blog post from Nathan Sharp, blogger Ali Wajih. head of the project. One of the features, service “Secret Crush,” allows people who are ‘A broader plot’? friends to connect if they both secretly In response, Wajih penned a rare open letter to WASHINGTON: Is love the answer on express interest in each other. Iraq’s prime minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, Hashed chief Facebook? The huge social network rolled “Facebook Dating won’t match you with Faleh Fayyadh and his powerful deputy Abu Mehdi Al- out its online dating service for the United friends, unless you choose to use Secret Muhandis. “For years, a group of us journalists and States - a move to take on rivals such as Crush and you both add each other to your bloggers has faced incitements to murder by people smartphone app Tinder, while focusing on list,” Sharp said. “Finding a romantic part- and pages that may be close to the Hashed, or directly connecting people in “real” long-term rela- ner is deeply personal, which is why we linked to it,” he wrote. Allegations they were “agents” tionships. The free “Facebook Dating” site built Dating to be safe, inclusive and opt-in. or seeking normalization with Israel, Wajih said, were which was announced last year and already Safety, security and privacy are at the fore- “empty and silly”. available in 19 other countries will allow front of this product.” Iraqis have long been opposed to Israel because of users to link their Facebook and Instagram Sharp said users will have the ability to its occupation of Palestinian land.