Turkey could soon extradite at least 20 fugitives to Egypt as the two countries make progress in talks to normalise fraught relations.
Egyptian security sources told The National that Turkey had agreed in principle to extradite nearly two dozen people suspected of roles in terrorist attacks, including the 2015 assassination of the country’s chief prosecutor.
The sources said Cairo, in return, was willing to consider curtailing some activities by US-based exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016.
These may include his Cairo-based Turkish language TV station, publishing house and a private Arabic-learning centre for Turkish students, they said.
The officials said further negotiations were needed to finalise details of an agreement.
Egypt and Turkey first held talks in Cairo in May. A second round of dialogue aimed at normalising relations took place in Ankara on September 7 and 8.
After the Ankara talks, officials from both sides said they would meet again but did not give a date.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry declined to discuss details of the talks.
However, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry have made cautiously optimistic comments on the future of relations between the two nations since the end of the talks last week.
Mr Shoukry said Egypt was “eager to find a resolution” to restore ties with Ankara, but more work needed to be done.
Mr Madbouli said diplomatic ties with Turkey could be restored this year if outstanding issues were overcome.
“There has been a lot of movement that has taken place in the last few months,” Mr Madbouli said, but some outstanding issues remain.
He cited Libya, where the two countries have supported rival factions in that country’s now-easing civil war.
This issue posed the risk of a major escalation last year, which could have resulted in Egypt and Turkey sending troops to fight in Libya on opposing sides.
Both Mr Madbouli and Mr Shoukry made their comments in interviews last week on Bloomberg TV.
Egypt insists that Turkey must pull out its troops and allied foreign fighters from Libya to allow that energy-rich nation to press ahead with an internationally supported, UN-led political process.
Turkey has also requested Egypt's help in efforts to ensure that Russian military advisers belonging to a security firm close to the Kremlin also leave Libya, the security officials said.
Egypt and Nato member Turkey have not exchanged ambassadors since 2013, when relations soured over the removal of Mohammed Morsi of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood by the military, then led by head of the army and future president Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
Besides Libya, Egypt and Turkey are also at sharp odds over what Cairo sees as Ankara’s support to extremist groups and the use of its military and mercenaries across several Middle Eastern countries – including Iraq and Syria.
The negotiations between Egypt and Turkey, while still at an early stage and led only by deputy foreign ministers, are part of an energetic diplomatic drive by Ankara to improve frayed ties with Arab heavyweights, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The Turkish effort is motivated largely by Ankara’s wish not to lose the goodwill of some of its largest trade partners in the region and to secure a place in plans underway to turn the Eastern Mediterranean into a global energy hub after the discovery of massive natural gas reserves.
The energy plans are led by Egypt, and Turkey’s archrivals Greece and Cyprus. They also include Israel, Jordan, Italy and the Palestinians.
Also on Turkey’s wish list is striking a maritime deal with Egypt in the East Mediterranean that would allow it to legally explore for natural gas in the area.
The security officials said that the Egyptian citizens Cairo had requested to be extradited from Turkey have already been barred from travelling.
They include Yahya Moussa and Alaa Al Samahy, who have been tried and convicted in absentia for their part in the 2015 assassination of Attorney General Hesham Barakat.
The others are wanted in connection with terror attacks, including the assassination or attempted killing of senior police and army officers in the years that followed Mr Morsi’s 2013 ouster.
Most of these attacks were blamed by authorities on Hasm, an armed wing of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
Hasm was designated a terrorist organisation by the US in 2018. Moussa and Al Samahy, believed to be involved in the planning and financing of a series of attacks, were added in January this year to the State Department list of wanted terrorists.
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
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UAE-based players
Goodlands Riders: Jamshaid Butt, Ali Abid, JD Mahesh, Vibhor Shahi, Faizan Asif, Nadeem Rahim
Rose Hill Warriors: Faraz Sheikh, Ashok Kumar, Thabreez Ali, Janaka Chathuranga, Muzammil Afridi, Ameer Hamza
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
