Qatar’s financing of weapons to Hezbollah endangered the lives of about 10,000 US troops in the country, Fox News reported on Wednesday.
A private security contractor provided a dossier to the US news outlet revealing that a member of the Qatari royal family had authorised the delivery of military equipment to the group in Lebanon.
Hezbollah has been designated a terrorist organisation by the US and the EU. It is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US military personnel in Iraq and Lebanon.
Qatar's Al Udeid military base is home to US Air Force squadrons and a headquarters of US Central Command.
The documents, which Fox News reported had been verified by German intelligence officials, showed in detail how the royal family member had supported Hezbollah since 2017.
The contractor said that Qatar’s ambassador to Belgium and Nato, Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi, tried to cover up the royal family’s role in financing Hezbollah with a bribe of €750,000 (Dh3.2 million/$891,100).
The contractor, referred to as Jason G in the report, gave the false name to protect himself from retaliation over the dossier.
He claimed that he had launched a sting operation with the intention to stopping Qatar from “funding extremists”.
Jason G said the “bad apples need to be taken out of the barrel”.
He said at a meeting with Mr Al Khulaifi in Brussels last year, the ambassador was heard to say “the Jews are our enemies”.
Nathalie Goulet, a French senator who led a Nato report into financing of international terrorism, told The National the allegations in the dossier were "very disturbing".
Ms Goulet said Qatar had gained a “bad reputation” because of its practices, funding malign groups besides Hezbollah that included the Muslim Brotherhood.
She said the possibility of the ambassador acting as a conduit for funding represented a particular challenge.
“The Belgium Ambassador [could] send money to Germany and then Germany would also have these kind of problems,” Ms Goulet said.
“If you don't want to have this kind of extremism, we have to fight and track money because the best way to beat terrorism is to follow the money."
The dossier said two Qatari charities also supplied cash to Hezbollah in Beirut “under the guise of food and medicine”.
They were the Sheikh Eid bin Mohammed Al Thani Charitable Association and the Education Above All Foundation.
Ms Goulet said the international community needed to be watchful, as fresh aid flowed into Beirut after Tuesday’s devastating explosions, that groups such as Hezbollah were not the beneficiaries.
“Large amounts of money, which will arrive in Lebanon, we have to be very, very careful it that will not be misused,” she said.
British MP Ian Paisley Jr, who has also been involved in tracing the financing of terrorist groups, told Fox that Qatar’s conduct was “outrageous”, and that the governments in the UK and Belgium should act decisively.
"These allegations are very serious, particularly given that the ambassador is ambassador to Nato, and this should be investigated and appropriate action taken," Mr Paisley said.
"Hezbollah are a proscribed terrorist group in Britain and working with them can’t be tolerated.
"I will tomorrow contact the UK Foreign Secretary [Dominic Raab] and ask him to investigate these allegations and make representations to the ambassador."
Hezbollah was founded by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Lebanon in 1982 as a proxy militia for Tehran.
It retains close links with Iran and depends on it for financial support.
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
Naga
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Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
