World

New Zealand divers search for volcano victims; death toll rises to 15

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

WELLINGTON- New Zealand divers searched contaminated waters near the volcanic White Island for two remaining bodies on Saturday, as the death toll from an eruption rose to 15 people, the police said. Waters around the island were contaminated by the massive eruption of rocks, lava and chemicals

Asia

China to target around 6% growth in 2020, step up state spending – sources

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

BEIJING- China plans to set a lower economic growth target of around 6% in 2020 from this year’s 6-6.5%, relying on increased state infrastructure spending to ward off a sharper slowdown, policy sources said. Chinese leaders are trying to support growth to limit job losses that could affect social stability, but are facing pressure to […]

Middle East

Qatar says there has been ‘small progress’ in resolving Gulf dispute

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

DOHA- Qatar’s foreign minister said on Saturday there has been small progress to resolve a 2-1/2 year dispute between the Gulf state and its neighbours. Asked whether there was progress at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit held last week, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told Reuters that there has been “small progress, just a little […]

Middle East

Morocco ex-diplomat to U.N. accused of visa fraud over workers

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

NEW YORK- Prosecutors in New York have charged a former Moroccan ambassador to the United Nations and others with visa fraud, accusing them of bringing workers to the United States using fake employment contracts and then exploiting them. Abdeslam Jaidi, his ex-wife Maria Luisa Estrella and her brother Ramon Singson brought in more than 10 […]

USA

Trade deal removes major hurdle for rally in Apple and tech

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO- U.S. President Donald Trump’s limited trade deal with China removes a major hurdle for Apple and other technology stocks that have already surged this year to record highs. The so-called Phase One deal announced, but still not signed, on Friday suspends the planned imposition of new 15% tariffs on Sunday that would have […]

Europe

German balanced budget policy should not be a fetish – Bundesbank chief

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

BERLIN- Germany does not need an economic stimulus package and its ‘black zero’ balanced budget policy is useful for achieving sound finances but should not become a fetish, the head of the national central bank told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung. “As a political budgetary objective, the black zero fulfils the pedagogical purpose of ensuring sound finances.

Europe

Ruling on Ryanair bid to delay COO’s easyJet move set for next week

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

DUBLIN- An Irish High Court judge hopes to rule next week on whether Ryanair can prevent its operations chief Peter Bellew from joining arch-rival easyJet until 2021. Ryanair has argued that Bellew possesses information of competitive value and that he is bound by a non-compete clause. Former Malaysia Airlines boss Bellew denies he is subject […]

USA

U.S. prosecutors seek new mental exam of Colorado abortion clinic gunman

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

DENVER- Federal prosecutors urged a judge on Friday to order a new psychiatric evaluation of a Colorado man charged with murder but deemed mentally unfit to stand trial in state court for a deadly shooting rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic in 2015. Robert Lewis Dear, 61, returned to U.S. District Court in Denver to […]

Middle East

Ex-premier elected Algerian president; thousands march in protest

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

ALGIERS- A former prime minister was elected Algeria’s new president in a vote the authorities hope will end months of turmoil, but protesters who toppled his predecessor marched again on Friday, vowing their movement would not stop. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 74, campaigned as a technocrat who had proven his integrity by being sacked for falling out […]

Middle East

‘We are nothing’ without UN agency’s help, says Palestinian refugee

Editorial Bureau December 14, 2019

BETHLEHEM/GAZA- George Salameh’s family has lived in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem for 70 years. Still, he prefers his family be called “al-Yafawi”, meaning “of Jaffa”, an ode to the Mediterranean coastal town his family left in 1948 and still considers home. Salameh, like many Palestinians whose families were made refugees following the