Tag Archives: horse-racing
Egypt names Mehlib as new premier ahead of key election
Egypt names Mehlib as new premier ahead of key election (AP) / 26 February 2014 New prime minister says his cabinet members will be “holy warriors” in the service of Egyptians. Egypt’s interim president chose the outgoing housing minister, a construction magnate from the era of ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak, as his new prime minister on Tuesday, some two months ahead of key presidential elections. The switch from veteran economist Hazem Al Beblawi to Ibrahim Mehlib, who successfully led Egypt’s biggest construction company for a decade, appeared orchestrated to give Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, the country’s military chief, a window for a quieter street after a spike in labor strikes with the potential of triggering wider unrest. Al Sisi overthrew President Mohammed Mursi in July and backed Al Beblawi’s government through tumultuous times, including a heavy crackdown on Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood, and a nationwide referendum that adopted a new constitution while militant insurgency and terror attacks surged. With his presidential bid almost certain, Al Sisi must leave the military to run for president. However, a senior government official said the 59-year-old soldier will retain his defence minister’s post in the next Cabinet. “There is a need for a fresh face to deal with the strikes,” said Mohammed Aboul Ghar, head of the Egyptian Social Democratic party, from which el-Beblawi hails. “Al Beblawi was supposed to stay for two more months but the strikes propelled a speed-up in pushing through the changes.” A change of government before the presidential vote would also spare Al Sisi the disruption associated with forming a new one if he becomes president, a near certainty given his sweeping popularity and the relative weakness of his rivals — likely a leftist politician and a retired general. Minutes after news broke that he had been chosen prime minister, Mehlib told reporters his cabinet members will be “holy warriors” in the service of Egyptians. He said that his top priority is to improve living standards, combat terrorism and restore security. This, he said, would pave the way for presidential elections. “God willing, the presidential elections will pass and will take place in proper conditions of safety, security, transparency,” he said, adding, “the priority is to work day and night … anyone in the cabinet will be a holy warrior to achieve the goals of the people.” When asked about the strikes, Mehlib said that excessive labour demands can “topple the state.” Labour official and activist Kamal Abbas saw a positive sign in the resignation of Al Beblawi’s government “in response to the strikes,” but added that workers will wait and see what the new one will bring. “This is an example of failed response to the strikes. Instead of sending the buses, why don’t you talk to the workers and when negotiations fail, talk again until we reach a solution,” said Abbas. The military, meanwhile, sought to head off a backlash over the strike by public transport workers, sending its own buses to ferry passengers across the capital. “This is to lighten the suffering of citizens and the harm caused by the strikes,” said a statement posted on the Facebook page of military spokesman Col. Ahmed Mohammed Ali. Mehlib, the prime minister-designate, has a reputation for being a hard worker and a successful chief executive of several large companies. Born in 1949, he is a graduate of Cairo University’s school of engineering. He rose through the ranks of the construction conglomerate Arab Contractors to become its chief executive for 11 years before resigning in 2012. He worked in Saudi Arabia for one year before he returned to become housing minister under Al Beblawi. In a separate development, courts on Tuesday sentenced 220 mostly Mursi supporters to up to seven years imprisonment for instigating violence and holding protests without a permit. Three courts in the port city of Alexandria issued the verdicts in separate cases, all related to street protests. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
30 people died of drug overdose across UAE in 2013
30 people died of drug overdose across UAE in 2013 Amira Agarib / 26 February 2014 The people who died of overdose, were found to be using different kinds of drugs including heroin, amphetamine and keptagon. About 30 people died due to drug overdose across the UAE in 2013, a Sharjah Public Prosecution official said. This year, he said, already six people have died due to drug overdose, including two this month. Pointing out to the increasing drug use in the country, the official warned that drug traffickers are targeting the youth. Ghanim Ali Al Mansour, Head of Prosecution of Anti-Narcotics at the Sharjah Public Prosecution, said most of the people who died of drug overdose are UAE nationals and aged 30 and above. According to Al Mansour, currently the Sharjah Public Prosecution is investigating the death of two persons, who reportedly died of drug overdose. Aged 44 and 45, these men were UAE nationals and resided in Al Khuzama area. People who died of overdose, he said, were found to be using different kinds of drugs including heroin, amphetamine and keptagon. He said the number of people who have died from drug overdose is considered “high” as the monthly average is over two. “We should face the fact that the number of drug-related cases are on the rise,” he said. Drug-related cases referred to the Sharjah Public Prosecution has increased during the past few years. Majority of the drug users in the UAE, especially Sharjah, use tramadol pills, he said, noting the recent police operation, which led to the seizure of 60,000 tramadol pills. “Drug traffickers distribute these drugs among the youth, who get addicted to them after just trying it out. Tramadol, which is supposed to be used for medical purposes, is being used by the youth — sometimes in double doses — to feel active,” he said. He said the smuggled tramadol pills may have a cover of 100 grams, but the real dosage might actually be 400 grams. “So when a person taken a double dose of the drug, he dies,” he said. The UAE, he said, is among the first countries in the Arab world to have banned tramadol. news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
South American drug cartels target GCC
South American drug cartels target GCC Allan Jacob / 25 February 2014 Narco-terrorists have established routes through West Africa to emerging markets in the region and Asia. The death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman from suspected heroin overdose may have thrown the spotlight on drugs, but narco-terrorism is the larger concern for security agencies around the world, including the UAE and other GCC countries. A leading security expert has revealed that Latin American cartels entrenched in Africa are eyeing the GCC for supplying and trafficking in narcotics. They also seek to launder their dirty money from the drug trade in the region as the zero tax regime aids their operations. Narco-terrorism refers to the nexus between drug cartels, transnational criminal organisations and terrorist groups. “In the last 10 years, drug cartels from South America have increased their presence and operations in West Africa to secure the movement of drugs (mostly cocaine) to markets in Europe, and the emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East,” said Johan Obdola, President of the International Organisation for Security and Intelligence, which advises governments on how to tackle the scourge. Latin American drug cartels and terrorist groups, including Colombia’s Farc rebels, Mexican drug organisations like ‘Zetas’ and El Chapo Guzman are actively involved in Africa, mainly in West Africa. He said these cartels were hoping to establish themselves in the Middle East and Asia. “We are identifying the new routes that narco-terrorist groups are developing and operating between South America — specifically Brazil and Argentina — to the GCC region, mainly Qatar, with ramifications in the UAE,” said Obdola, a former Venezuelan police commissioner, who now lives in Canada. He said these organised groups were already in “their second stage of their operations”. They are keen to use the UAE as a hub for drug trafficking and money laundering. The bigger concern was that they were working on all fronts to establish a demand for their products in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, he said. “Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Currently, Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago are nations where well-organised narco-terrorist groups are developing their routes to the GCC region and Asia,” he said. Last week, Colonel Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the UAE’s Federal Anti-Narcotics Agency in the Ministry of Interior, said 11 tonnes of narcotics were seized in 2013. The Ministry of Interior also said assets and money of those involved in the sale of drugs and associated with money laundering would be confiscated. There is no evidence that the banned Muslim Brotherhood is benefiting from the drugs trade, but Obdola added that Al Qaeda was spreading its tentacles in Latin America. “There are confirmed operatives in Brazil, Colombia and other nations, including some countries in Central America (Honduras and Mexico). Al Qaeda members are also doing business with Colombian drug cartels and the Farc rebels.” Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Hezbollah and other groups are increasingly active in Latin America and Mexico, and cocaine trade is a very important financial support. Obdola said the GCC and UAE have two main fronts in the fight against narco-terror emerging from Latin America via Africa, and from Afghanistan. “The narcotics industry, with the involvement of organised criminals, drug cartels and terrorist groups are establishing a strategically sound alliance for financial and even political gain,” he said. Latin American drug networks are structured for money laundering and local consumption of drugs based on demand. These cartels also have the discreet ability and financial heft to spark off corruption and infiltrate private corporates, and transport, logistics, and security units. Investments are made in real state, front businesses, transportation and other sectors as well. The UAE police and security agencies have done good work in the areas of enforcement and intelligence to counter the illegal drug trade. They are engaging with communities to gather local intelligence and are also working with agencies globally to provide the best response against the phenomenon. allan@khaleejtimes.com The Latin American connection Amira Agarib Security officials in the UAE have confirmed the South American link to narcotics smuggling and established crime in the region. Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and Security in Dubai, speaking to Khaleej Times, said there has been an increase in drug-related activity from Latin America where traffickers exploit Africans and Asians, including women. According to Dubai Police statistics, there has been an increase in smuggling of cocaine and heroin from Latin America to Africa, GCC and other countries via the Dubai International Airport. The drugs haul represents 75 per cent of all drug seizures at Dubai Airports. “Drug traffickers not only break anti-drug laws but also laws governing financial institutions. It’s an established network where they rope in local criminals and anti-social elements — bribery and blackmailing are common in their modus operandi,” he said. Investigations have shown that drug traffickers are actively targeting countries facing political unrest to channel their illegal substances. He said youth unemployment has become a concern and many young people are taking to drugs to escape from their misery. “People are exploited because of their circumstances by these large cartels who use closer geographical locations, porous borders and lack of effective legislation to promote drugs.” “There is a relationship between international drug smuggling and the growth of money laundering which is then channelled into other nefarious activities,” Lt-Gen Khalfan said. He called it a vicious cycle where high demand for substances led to increased production which, in turn, creates more markets. 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