SEOUL: Samsung Electronics’ ailing chairman, Lee Kun-hee, has been named by South Korean police as a suspect in an 8.2 billion won ($7.5 million) tax evasion case that involved the use of bank accounts held by employees.
A series of scandals has dogged the family of Samsung, the country’s biggest business empire.
The chairman’s son, Jay Y. Lee, heir to the Samsung Group, was released from detention earlier this week after an appeals court halved his sentence for bribery and corruption to two-and-half years and suspended it for four years.
Following a heart attack in 2014, the elder Lee, 76, has remained hospitalized in Seoul’s Samsung Medical Center and is difficult to commuicate with having shown little sign of recovery. Until his imprisonment Jay Y. Lee had been regarded as the de facto head of the group.
Police said the elder Lee could not be questioned due to his physical condition and Samsung declined comment.
“Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee and a Samsung executive managed funds in 260 bank accounts under names of 72 executives, suspected of evading taxes worth 8.2 billion won,” the Korean National Police Agency said announcing plans to send the case to prosecutors.
Police added that the accounts, holding about 400 billion won, were found in the course of their probe into alleged improper payments for the renovation of Lee’s family residence.
The investigation into tax evasion harks back to the late payment of 130 billion won in tax in 2011, though only 8.2 billion of that sum falls within the statute of limitations, according to police.
The corruption case that led to the younger Lee’s arrest last year and brought down the former president Park Geun-hye prompted Samsung to vow to improve transparency in corporate governance and grant heads of the group’s affiliates more autonomy from the Lee family.
The group dismantled its corporate strategy office in late 2017.
The new liberal government led by President Moon Jae-in elected after the corruption scandal promised to put family-run conglomerates under stronger scrutiny and end the practice of pardoning corporate tycoons convicted of white-collar crimes.
Jay Y. Lee has not been seen back at the office since his release on Feb. 5, but members of the Korean business community expect him to take up the reins once again, and invest more in the business to create jobs that might help soothe public anger.
Returning home from prison, the younger Lee apologized for not showing his best side and said he would do what he could, but did not give specifics on his business plans.
While he spent a year behind bars, Samsung Electronics, the world’s top semiconductors maker, earned record profit as it benefited from a memory chip “super cycle.”
It is not the first time the elder Lee has been investigated for tax evasion. He was convicted in 2009 and later pardoned for the same offense after being embroiled in a scandal that also involved the use of accounts held by trusted employees.
Police say they have since identified more such accounts.
Shares in Samsung Electronics rose 1.1 percent compared with a 0.5 percent rise in the wider market. Blue chip tech stocks bounced after recent falls as investors saw current valuations as attractive, analysts said.
Samsung’s beleaguered chairman named as suspect in $7.5m tax evasion case
Samsung’s beleaguered chairman named as suspect in $7.5m tax evasion case
Lyna Khoudri supports French Arab directors ahead of Cesar Awards
DUBAI: French Algerian actress Lyna Khoudri took to social media to drum up support for “Bye Bye Tiberias,” which is eligible in the documentary category at the 50th Cesar Awards in France.
France’s answer to the Academy Awards, the Cesar Awards will be held on Feb. 28, with voting for all categories closing on Jan. 28.
The awards are voted on by a cohort of 4,000 professionals in the film and media industries.
Khoudri does not feature in “Bye Bye Tiberias,” French Palestinian Algerian filmmaker Lina Soualem’s documentary feature that follows Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass. Best known for her roles in HBO’s “Succession” and Hulu’s “Ramy,” as well as films including “Munich” and “Blade Runner 2049.” Abbass grew up in the Galilean village of Deir Hanna. In her early 20s, she made the decision to leave her family home and follow her dream of becoming an actress in Europe. Behind her she left her mother, grandmother, and seven sisters.
It is this decision that is central to “Bye Bye Tiberias.” Reflecting on Abbass’ chosen exile and the ways in which the women of her family have influenced her and her mother’s lives, Soualem’s film portrays four generations of daring Palestinian women, including her great grandmother, Um Ali, her grandmother Nemat, and her great aunt Hosnieh.
“When my mother reads a poem about my great grandmother, we can feel that she is overwhelmed by emotion,” Soualem, who is also Abbass’ daughter, previously told Arab News.
“And the story of my great aunt combines all the tragedy of our family, because it’s the loss of place, it’s the separation from family, it’s the body separated from the soil. I couldn’t imagine being separated from my mother and sister for 30 years. And what is impressive is that, despite all of this, my great aunt seems to be a model of femininity and positivity for my mother. The one who lost the most is the one who taught her the most.”
Khoudri also took to Instagram to promote director Hakim Atoui’s “Blood Ties” in the Best Short Fiction Film category.
“When Ali and Leila visit their mother, who has just been discharged from hospital, they have some revelations to make. They are shocked to discover that she is now living with Elyo, a medical assistance robot. Lunch with this strange machine soon turns into a family feud,” the logline of the film reads.
15 killed in an explosion and fire at a gas station in central Yemen
- The province of Bayda where the explosion occurred is controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have been at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for more than a decade
CAIRO: An explosion at a gas station triggered a massive fire in central Yemen, killing at least 15 people, health officials said Sunday.
The explosion occurred Saturday at the Zaher district in the province of Bayda, the Houthi rebel-run Health Ministry said in a statement. At least 67 others were injured, including 40 in critical condition.
The ministry said rescue teams were searching for those reported missing. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the explosion.
Footage circulated online showing a massive fire that sent columns of smoke into the sky and left vehicles charred and burning.
Bayda is controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have been at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for more than a decade.
Yemen’s civil war began in 2014, when the rebels took control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s north, forcing the government to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war in March 2015, backed at the time by the US, in an effort to restore the internationally recognized government.
The war has killed more than 150,000 people including civilians and combatants, and in recent years deteriorated largely into a stalemate and caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The Harrods Hive networking hub returns to Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The Harrods Hive Riyadh returned for its second edition on Saturday, this time hosted at the Diriyah Sales Center in Al-Diriyah. In partnership with the Saudi Youth Society, this edition focused on the evolution of luxury experiences and the engagement of audiences with culture and creativity.
The event featured afternoon tea and three insightful panels. The first panel, titled “Growing a Creative Community in the Spotlight,” discussed the importance of connection amid rapid evolution and growth in the Kingdom. The second panel, “Stories That Matter,” centered on owning one’s passion and pioneering change. The final panel, “Sparking Innovation Locally through Global Influencers,” explored the intersection of local and global creativity. Attendees had the opportunity to network with panelists and members of the Harrods senior leadership team.
The first panel included Saudi artist Lulwah Al-Homoud, bespoke tailor Yousef Tammar, chef Mona Mosly, and cultural advisor Yasmine Rasool. An artist known for blending traditional Islamic art with modern abstraction — Al-Homoud emphasized the significance of connection in art.
“Art is a bridge that connects us all … when someone resonates with my work, it feels like a validation of my journey.”
Tammar, an emerging Saudi tailor studying in Rome, described his transformative journey as “like a fairy tale.” He reflected on the cultural shifts he experienced and expressed a desire to integrate his skills into Saudi culture, focusing on elevating the quality of traditional clothing. “I want to bring a new perspective to traditional designs,” he shared. “It’s about honoring our heritage while embracing innovation.”
Mosly shared her culinary inspirations rooted in her family's love for food, noting that “behind every chef is their mother.” She highlighted the importance of family in nurturing culinary passion, adding, “Food is not just about sustenance; it’s about connection and love. When I cook, I’m sharing a piece of my heart.” She also spoke on the challenges of her career, stating, “Every chef faces moments of doubt, but those are the moments that shape us. It’s crucial to remember why we began this journey.”
For her part, Rasool discussed the myriad opportunities available in Saudi Arabia for creatives. She expressed excitement about the potential for collaboration among diverse talents, stating, “This is the best time to be in Saudi … we're on the brink of a cultural renaissance, with so many voices ready to be heard. Together, we can create something truly magical.”
This year's theme of the networking hub aiming to connect industry experts with emerging talent was “The Connector,” The theme serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of nurturing meaningful bonds, both locally and globally — as Al-Humoud concluded, “In a world that often feels divided, art and creativity are what unite us.”
Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meetings on Syria
- Riyadh is negotiating how to support the war-struck country’s transition
RIYADH: Top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe were arriving in the Saudi capital on Sunday to discuss Syria, as world powers push for stability after the fall of Bashar Assad.
The talks on Sunday will unfold in two sessions: the first will bring together Arab officials, while the second will feature wider participation, including from Turkiye, France, the European Union and the United Nations, a Saudi official told AFP on Saturday.
Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who led the main group in the alliance that overthrew Assad, is pushing for sanctions relief.
Western powers, including the United States and the European Union, imposed sanctions on Assad’s government over his brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011, which triggered the civil war.
More than 13 years of conflict have killed over half a million Syrians, left infrastructure destroyed and the people impoverished, while millions have fled their homes, including to Europe.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on Friday that the 27-nation bloc could begin lifting sanctions if Syria’s new rulers took steps to form an inclusive government that protected minorities.
Saudi Arabia cut ties with Assad’s government in 2012 and had long openly championed his ouster. But in 2023 it hosted an Arab League meeting at which Assad was welcomed back into the regional fold.
This month the Gulf kingdom has sent food, shelter and medical supplies to Syria over land and by plane.
Riyadh is now negotiating how to support the war-struck country’s transition beyond that.
“This summit sends the message that Saudi Arabia wants to take the lead on coordinating the regional effort to support Syria’s recovery,” said Anna Jacobs, non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
“But the big question is how much time and how many resources will Saudi Arabia devote to this effort? And what is possible with many of the sanctions remaining in place?”
The meetings on Sunday represent a continuation of talks on post-Assad Syria held last month in Jordan, the Saudi official said.
After those talks in Aqaba, diplomats called in a joint statement for a Syrian-led transition to “produce an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government formed through a transparent process.”
The statement also stressed “respect for human rights” and the importance of combating “terrorism and extremism,” demanding all parties cease hostilities in Syria.
Turkiye’s foreign minister had confirmed he would attend Sunday’s meeting. Iraq’s top diplomat was also in Riyadh for the gathering, and AFP saw Germany’s foreign minister at the conference venue.
US Undersecretary of State John Bass is also set to attend, coming from talks in Turkiye that partly covered “the importance of regional stability, preventing Syria from being used as a base for terrorism, and ensuring the enduring defeat” of the Daesh group, the State Department said.
Riyadh is “positively approaching” the new leaders in Syria, looking to see if they can bring stability and “control the more extreme elements in (their) ranks,” Karim said.
The group that Sharaa leads, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, but years ago broke that link and has sought to moderate its image.
Pakistan’s Malala says Israel has decimated ‘the entire education system’ in Gaza
- Nobel Peace laureate says will continue to call out Israel’s violations of human rights in Gaza
- Israel's attack on Gaza has killed 46,537 people, the majority civilians, since October 7, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai on Sunday said she would continue to call out Israel’s violations of international law and human rights in Gaza.
The education advocate was speaking at a global summit on girls’ education in Muslim nations hosted by Pakistan and attended by representatives from dozens of countries.
“In Gaza, Israel has decimated the entire education system,” she said in an address to the conference.
“They have bombed all universities, destroyed more than 90 percent of schools, and indiscriminately attacked civilians sheltering in school buildings.
“I will continue to call out Israel’s violations of international law and human rights.”
Yousafzai was shot when she was a 15-year-old schoolgirl by Pakistani militants enraged by her education activism.
She made a remarkable recovery after being evacuated to the United Kingdom and went on to become the youngest ever Nobel Prize winner at the age of 17.
“Palestinian children have lost their lives and future. A Palestinian girl cannot have the future she deserves if her school is bombed and her family is killed,” she added.
The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
During the attack, Palestinian militants took 251 people hostage, of whom 94 remain in the Gaza Strip, including 34 the Israeli military has declared dead.
Israel’s attack on Gaza has killed 46,537 people, the majority civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory considered reliable by the United Nations.
