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Landmark pesticide study retracted WASHINGTON: A flagship study that declared the weedkiller Roundup posed no serious health risks has been retracted with little fanfare, ending a 25-year saga that exposed how corporate interests can distort scientific research and influence government decision-making. Published in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology in 2000, the paper ranks in the top 0.1% of citations among studies on glyphosate – the key ingredient in Roundup, owned by agri giant Monsanto and at the centre of cancer lawsuits worth billions of dollars. In his retraction note last week, the journal’s editor-in-chief, Martin van den Berg, cited flaws from failing to include carcinogenicity studies available at the time to undisclosed contributions by Monsanto employees and even questions around financial compensation. Elsevier, the journal’s Dutch publisher, told AFP in a statement that it upholds the “highest standards of rigour and ethics” and that “as soon as the current editor became aware of concerns regarding this paper a matter of months ago, due process began”. But it did not address the fact that concerns date back to 2002, when critics wrote to Elsevier about “conflicts of interest, lack of transparency, and the absence of editorial independence” at the journal, including specific worries about Monsanto. The matter exploded into public view in 2017, when internal corporate documents released during litigation showed one of Monsanto’s own scientists admitting to “ghostwriting”. Harvard University science historian Naomi Oreskes, who co-authored a paper this September detailing the extent of the “fraud” in the 2000 study, told AFP that while she was“very gratified” at the “long overdue” action, but warned that “the scientific community needs better mechanisms to identify and retract fraudulent papers”. “This is completely in alignment with what we were calling them out for at the time,” said Lynn Goldman, a paediatrician and epidemiologist at GWU who co-signed the 2002 letter. – AFP 17 found dead in migrant vessel ATHENS: Seventeen men were found dead on Saturday after a migrant vessel was found drifting off the Greek island of Crete. “Two survivors in critical condition have been hospitalised,” said a coastguard spokeswoman. “Autopsies have to be carried out as the circumstances of the sinking are not known.” Greek state television channel ERT said the bodies had been found inside the vessel, which was taking on water and partly deflated. Manolis Frangoulis, the mayor of Cretan port Ierapetra, told reporters that all the victims had been young. “The vessel the migrants were on was deflated on two sides, which forced the passengers into a reduced space,” he said. Coroners are looking at the possibility that the migrants died of dehydration, ERT reported. The vessel was found 48km southwest of Crete, said Greek officials. A Turkish cargo ship spotted it and alerted the authorities. Two coastguard vessels, and another from the EU’s border agency Frontex travelled to the scene, as did a Frontex aircraft and Super Puma helicopter, said the coastguard. They said the two survivors had said that their vessel had become unstable because of bad weather, and they had had no way to cover up nor to eat or drink anything. Migrants have for the last year turned their attention to the Greek island of Crete, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, as a way of reaching European Union territory from Libya. The UN’s refugee agency says more than 16,770 people seeking asylum in the EU have arrived there since the start of the year. – AFP

Lee casting his vote yesterday. – AFPPIC

Hong Kong votes in shadow of deadly fire o Push to draw more voters

investigate the fire, which devastated seven apartment blocks undergoing renovations. Authorities extended voting times with yesterday’s polls opening at 7.30am, an hour earlier than in the previous election. The race will once again be devoid of the two largest pro-democracy parties: the Civic Party disbanded in 2023 and the Democratic Party, which is winding down. Before the fire, authorities had blanketed much of the city in promotional material and extended the operating hours of polling stations. Trains will also extend services on election day, while some businesses have promised to give employees who vote a half-day off . Around a third of the outgoing cohort of lawmakers, including veterans such as Regina Ip and legislature president Andrew Leung, are not seeking another term. Newcomers include Olympic champion fencer Vivian Kong, who is contesting a seat in the tourism functional constituency, where the winner is determined by industry representatives, not popular vote. – AFP damage to more private property, critical infrastructure, fencing, agricultural assets and National Parks,” the statement said, adding that the extent of damage would become clearer as impact assessments were done. The aid included “immediate financial help as well as clean-up, rebuilding and recovery assistance”, according to the statement. Two fires in New South Wales continued to burn out of control yesterday at the second highest danger rating, according to the state’s Rural Fire Service. New South Wales is one of the most wildfire-prone regions in Australia. – Reuters

Political campaigning was abruptly paused after a blaze tore through the housing blocks of Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong last month, killing at least 159 people. A woman surnamed Poon, whose home went up in flames, said the fire must be “thoroughly investigated”, adding that she believed the government responded promptly. “Whoever is at fault must be held responsible,” Poon said outside the polling station closest to the charred buildings. She said the next batch of lawmakers “should monitor the government”. Jacky Lam, a 56-year-old teacher who lived in the affected Tai Po district, said the government’s top priority should be proper resettlement. “(Lawmakers) ought to regularly meet residents and record their views,” Lam said. The government will propose a bill at the first meeting of the new Legislative Council to discuss relief and rebuilding efforts. City leader Lee had earlier announced a judge-led “independent committee” to

HONG KONG: City residents began voting yesterday to choose new lawmakers under Beijing’s “patriots only” rules, though government efforts to drive turnout have been overshadowed by the city’s deadliest fire in decades. Beijing revamped Hong Kong’s electoral system in 2021 following the city’s huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests, but the first contest under those rules saw a record low turnout of 30%. The voter turnout just before noon yesterday stood at 10.33%, while the comparable figure in the last election was 9.35%. Hong Kong leader John Lee again urged the public to head to the polls. “(Your) vote represents a vote that pushes forward reform, and a vote to protect those affected by the disaster,” Lee told reporters after casting his vote.

Disaster relief for New South Wales fire victims SYDNEY: Australia yesterday activated disaster relief for residents affected by wildfires that have burnt properties, infrastructure and thousands of hectares of bushland. country, after several quiet seasons. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said fortunately there had been no loss of life so far in the fires. “This summer, of course, like all summers it would appear in recent times, is going to be a difficult one,” Albanese said in remarks on Australian Broadcasting Corp television.

More than 60 wildfires were burning in New South Wales yesterday, a day after they destroyed at least 12 homes in the state’s central coast region, with a population of more than 350,000 people, about 45km north of the state capital Sydney. Authorities have warned of a high-risk bush fire season this summer with increased risk of extreme heat forecast for large swathes of the

Federal and New South Wales Labor governments said in a statement that disaster assistance was activated for six state regions hit by fires, which sparked in extreme heat on Saturday. “Initial assessments indicate a number of homes have been destroyed with extensive