Latest news with #184
Gulf Today
22-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Bayt Al Khair spent Dhs10,504,184 on humanitarian initiatives last month
Bayt Al Khair revealed that its total expenditure for April 2025 amounted to Dhs10,504,184, bringing the cumulative spending for the first four months of 2025 to Dhs85,954,842. Humanitarian support programmes topped the list, with expenditures totaling Dhs39,698,079 during the same period. These programmes aim to alleviate the hardships faced by individuals struggling with their livelihoods, addressing deficiencies beyond their financial capabilities. This expenditure is in addition to the monthly cash assistance projects targeting low-income Emirati families, which amounted to Dhs5,569,620 during the same period. The emergency assistance project falls under the "Fazaa" community solidarity programme, dedicated to relieving the burdens of modest families and those facing sudden crises or disabilities, enabling them to overcome their challenges and resume their normal lives. Through this initiative, "Bayt Al Khair" also provides humanitarian support to patients, both citizens and residents, via the "Treatment" project, which spent Dhs13,192,508 by the end of April. Additionally, the programme assists individuals burdened by debts they cannot repay through "Al Gharimin" project, which has expended Dhs3,118,087 so far.
TimesLIVE
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
'Grandpa robbers' face trial in Paris over Kim Kardashian jewellery heist
A group of men dubbed the 'grandpa robbers' will be among 10 people to go on trial next week accused of stealing millions of dollars worth of jewellery from Kim Kardashian, who was held at gunpoint in her flat during Paris fashion week in 2016. The reality TV star will travel to Paris to give evidence against the defendants, including men in their 70s, in the trial which will run for almost a month, her lawyer said. The suspects, wearing ski masks and clothes with police markings, tied Kardashian up in the bedroom of the luxury suite before making off with a $4m (R74.7m) engagement ring given to her by her then husband, rapper Kanye West (now known as Ye), and other jewels, according to investigators. The heist left Kardashian, whose bodyguard had accompanied her sister Kourtney to a nightclub on the night of the robbery, badly shaken but unhurt. 'They were yelling at me in French,' Kardashian recalled in an interview with David Letterman in 2020. 'They kept on saying 'the ring, the ring'. 'I kept looking at the concierge. I was like 'are we gonna die? Just tell them I have children, I have babies, I have to get home'.' Kardashian's legal team said she would not comment before the trial. 'Ms Kardashian is preserving her testimony for the court and jury,' the team said. 'She wishes for the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case.' In total, 10 people will be tried by the criminal court. Five of them face armed robbery and kidnapping charges. The others are charged with complicity in the heist or the unauthorised possession of a weapon. Investigators say in the early hours of October 3 2016, three of the men allegedly gained entry to the building under the pretence of being police, threatening the concierge at gunpoint. Two of them forced him to lead them to Kardashian's suite. The apartment block, with several secret entrances, was in a discreet building behind the city's Madeleine church often frequented by movie and music stars who paid up to €15,000 (R319,184) a night. One of the accused, Yunice Abbas, 71, has admitted his participation in the robbery. He told French TV channel TF1 he struggled to make ends meet as a pensioner having spent 20 years of his working life in jail. The 'big job was to be the last', he said, adding that he had been told a big diamond was the target but he had no idea it belonged to a celebrity billionaire. The men fled on bicycles with an estimated $9m (R168.19m) in loot. Abbas fell off his bike, losing some jewels on the pavement. Abbas' lawyer Gabriel Dumenil told Reuters his client had immediately acknowledged his involvement in the heist under interrogation. Abbas denies being the ringleader and had not been aware arms would be used, his lawyer said. DNA traces found on plastic bands used to tie the wrists of Kardashian helped French police make arrests in January 2017.
Gulf Today
16-03-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Court orders liquidation of Real Estate firm in Dubai
The Commercial Court in Dubai has issued a ruling to liquidate a real estate company after it was proved that its manager had been negligent in performing his duties and had breached his obligations. The court also decided to appoint a liquidation expert to oversee the inventory of assets, determine rights and obligations, and sell the company's properties at a public auction. He will also notify creditors, settle debts, and will distribute the remaining funds to partners according to their shares. Additionally, he will have to publicly announce the liquidation ruling. The details of the case date back to an earlier time when an Asian investor filed a lawsuit demanding the liquidation of the company and obligating his partner (the manager) to pay compensation of Dhs1,184,000 for the material and moral damages he incurred due to intentional mismanagement. According to the lawsuit, the agreement between the parties stipulated that the appellee would manage the company independently, which was documented in the company's founding contract and commercial license. However, since September 2023, the manager has refused to attend the company's headquarters or oversee its operations, neglecting his managerial duties. The plaintiff allegedly attempted to maintain the company's continuity and operation despite the manager's absence, but the latter sent messages to the company's employees and contracting companies, announcing his cessation of work and warning against using his electronic signature, threatening legal action against anyone who did so. The lawsuit also mentioned that the appellee refused to sign any documents or contracts, ignoring correspondence and requests directed to him, resulting in a complete paralysis of the company's operations, significant losses, and the accumulation of debts, part of which the plaintiff had to pay. Dr Alaa Nasr, the legal representative of the plaintiff, explained that the appellee failed to prepare the annual budget or profit and loss reports and did not submit any financial reports to the General Assembly for approval. The accounting expert's report also affirmed that the appellee did not fulfill his managerial duties, leading to the company's distress and harm.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Carolina lawmakers to discuss legislation addressing rising liquor liability rates
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) — State lawmakers are taking initial steps to address concerns about rising liquor liability rates, as two bills are being discussed by a group of senators on Thursday in Columbia. One of the bills that aims to address this issue is S. 184, which would change South Carolina's dram shop liability laws, and how the basis of liability is determined. State Sen. Ed Sutton (D), who represents parts of Downtown Charleston, West Ashley and James Island is one of the sponsors of the bill. He said the legislation is modeled after the state of Alabama's Dram Shop Act. 'That bill was successful in lowering the insurance premiums there so I'm glad we're looking at what's worked elsewhere and emulating that strategy here,' Sutton explained. Rising insurance rates have been an issue for restaurant and bar owners over the last few years, with some saying their premiums have more than doubled when they came up for renewal in 2024. This came after a state law was passed in 2017 that required establishments serving alcohol past 5 p.m. to carry a policy with a total coverage of at least $1 million. The change was made to ensure victims of alcohol-related incidents received proper compensation, but many in the industry say it has led to insurance companies pulling out of the state and skyrocketing rates — ultimately causing restaurant and bar closures. Sen. Sutton said he hears concerns about the rising liquor liability insurance rates from people in his district daily. 'In the last three years, the climb in premiums has been astronomical and it's quite frankly been very unfair. We're seeing most recently in the region is Brew Cellar and Local 616 closing out — there's been a lot more,' he said. Sen. Sutton explained that it is a priority for him to take steps that can help lower the rates, and he believes S. 184 will help accomplish that. 'This issue because it's been ignored and because people were unwilling to compromise is putting small businesses out of business,' he said. 'And I think that's incredibly unfair — so this is a top priority for my district, so it's a top priority for me.' S. 184 will be discussed on Thursday during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee meeting, as well as S. 244. Sen. Sutton believes S. 244 will draw more controversy than the bill he's sponsoring because it involves tort reform. In the past, victim advocates have discouraged making changes to tort laws that could potentially impact victims. However, Sutton said he believes lawmakers can help find a balance when making policy changes that lower liquor liability rates while also continuing to protect victims. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
