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Berlin: Germany said on Monday it had banned Iranian airline Mahan Air from its airports, in an escalation of sanctions adopted by the European Union against Tehran over attacks on opponents in the bloc. Officials sent Tehran-based Mahan Air a notification “ordering the immediate suspension of its authorisation to operate passenger flights from and to Germany” from Monday. Mahan, Iran’s second-largest carrier after Iran Air, flies four services a week between Tehran and the German cities of Duesseldorf and Munich. It was blacklisted by the US in 2011, as Washington said the carrier was providing technical and material support to an elite unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. AFP
Chinese accuse McDonald’s of backing Taiwan freedom
Beijing: Chinese nationalists are accusing a McDonald’s advertisement in Taiwan of supporting independence for the self-ruled island. The advertisement for a breakfast sandwich, broadcast only in Taiwan, shows a two-second glimpse of a woman’s identity card that lists her nationality as ‘Taiwan’. Comments on Internet bulletin boards accused McDonald’s of violating Chinese law by supporting independence for Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. Some called for a boycott. Others said McDonald’s should be expelled from China. AP
Prince Philip crash: Debris for sale on eBay
London: Debris, said to be from a horrendous crash involving 97-year-old Prince Philip, has been put up for sale on eBay with all the money promised for cancer research, a media report said on Monday. Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, was unhurt in the crash on Thursday on the busy A149, in which his Land Rover Freelander landed on its side after a collision with a Kia car. Seller morbius777 claimed the parts were from the collision near King’s Lynn, Norfolk, on Thursday. The listing said the items “may even have Phil’s DNA on it, if you wanted to clone him or anything”. The Duke of Edinburgh escaped unhurt in the crash. PTI
Tulsi Gabbard defends her meeting with Assad
Washington: Democratic presidential aspirant Tulsi Gabbard has defended her controversial decision to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017, saying that American leaders must meet with foreign leaders “if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country.” Gabbard, 37, the first Hindu elected to US Congress and a four-time Democratic lawmaker, earlier this month announced she will run for President in 2020. Gabbard, who represents Hawaii, had met Assad during a trip to Syria in January 2017. The Syrian leader is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians. PTI