illegal

Mexico captures rare vaquita porpoise in bid to save species

Mexico City - Muslimchronicle

Mexico said Saturday it had captured a rare vaquita marina porpoise — a female of reproductive age — as part of a last-ditch bid to save the critically endangered species. The vaquita, the world’s smallest porpoise, has been pushed to the brink of extinction by illegal gillnet fishing and there are just 30 left in the wild. The Mexican governmentRead more

Joy and confusion after Catalan leader's 'independence' speech

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

When she heard Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont utter the word "independence" Merce shed tears of emotion -- whereas Sergio scowled with disdain. Puigdemont's Barcelona speech whipped up plenty of fervour among both supporters and rivals, but elation was mixed with confusion. There was joy among thousands of Puigdemont backers, who stood draped in Catalan flags at the foot ofRead more

EU hammers Amazon and Apple as tax offensive builds momentum

Brussels - Muslimchronicle

The EU turned the screw on US tech giants yesterday, ordering Amazon to repay Luxembourg €250 million in back taxes and taking Ireland to court for failing to collect billions from Apple. Europe's competition chief Margrethe Vestager accused tiny Luxembourg of an illegal deal with internet shopping giant Amazon to pay less tax than other businesses. The two cases areRead more

Spain rejects mediation as Catalans plan to declare independence

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

For years Huang Sheng-yi helped feed Taiwan’s addiction to the betel nut, planting thousands of the trees on his mountainous farm. Spain’s government has defiantly rejected calls for mediation over Catalonia’s push for independence as the two factions headed toward another showdown. The EU has urged dialogue to ease the standoff between separatists in the northeastern region and Madrid, butRead more

Tree trimming firm pays biggest fine in US immigration case

Milwaukee - Muslimchronicle

A tree trimming company has been handed the largest penalty imposed in a US immigration case, totaling $95 million, after pleading guilty to employing illegal immigrants, the US Attorney’s Office said. Immigration reform is a major political issue in the US, with President Donald Trump saying he will crack down on illegal immigrants and build a wall between the USRead more

Six killed in explosion at illegal gold mine in Colombia

Colombia - Muslimchronicle

Six security contractors working for Canadian-listed miner Continental Gold were killed after an explosion at an illegal gold mine in central Colombia, the company said on Saturday. The explosion took place on Friday in the Buritica municipality of Antioquia province when the contractors surprised a group of illegal miners in a shaft they were inspecting, Continental said. One of theRead more

Caracas - Muslimchronicle

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro dismissed US economic sanctions imposed Wednesday against 13 current and former officials of his country as insolent. The punishment by the Treasury Department is in retaliation for Maduro's plans to go ahead with a vote this weekend for an assembly that would rewrite the constitution. Maduro called the sanctions "illegal, insolent and unprecedented." "Who do theseRead more

Illegal workers arrested, deported from Oman

Muscat - Arab today

98 workers were arrested and deported last month in Buraimi, the Ministry of Manpower announced on Wednesday. The Manpower Department in The Governorate of Al Buraimi has caught 40 workers in violation of the labor laws and regulations in the Sultanate last March. “This is a continuation of the Ministry's efforts to regulate the labor market, reduce the phenomenon ofRead more

Israel approves partial marijuana decriminalisation

Jerusalem - Arab Today

The Israeli government on Sunday approved a plan to partially decriminalise marijuana use in public in favour of fines and treatment, officials said. First-time users who confess will be fined 1,000 shekels ($270, 255 euros). The fine will be doubled on the second offence, with the third time forcing a probation period on the user. Police will refer a userRead more

Tadweer organises free 'Al Ain - random waste dumping'

Abu dhabi - WAM

The Center of Waste Management, Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with Al Ain Municipality, has launched "Al Ain – random waste dumping free" campaign with the objective to limit random waste dumping. Nayel Rashed Al Shamsi, Al Ain Branch Manager at Tadweer, said that the campaign was organised in line with Tadweer’s efforts to raise awareness amongst community members in AlRead more