Latest news with #A.A.
Gulf News
03-05-2025
- Gulf News
Couple jailed for 10 years in UAE for framing Indian business partner in drug case
Ras Al Khaimah: An Emirati man and his family members have been handed lengthy prison sentences for orchestrating a false drug case against his Indian business partner in a bid to seize control of their flourishing business. The Ras Al Khaimah Criminal Court sentenced the Emirati man, identified as S.R., and his wife to 10 years in prison each, along with fines of Dh50,000. The wife's brother, A.A., who played a central role in executing the plot, received a 15-year prison term and was fined Dh100,000. Investigations revealed that S.R., influenced by his wife, devised a plan to eliminate his Indian business partner, who had been running a rapidly growing business with substantial profits. In an attempt to assume full control of a highly profitable venture, they decided to fabricate a drug possession charge against the partner. S.R. enlisted the help of his brother-in-law, A.A., who had a history of drug use, to place drugs in the Indian partner's vehicle. Following the setup, S.R. reported his partner to the police, leading to a search of the vehicle by the authorities and the subsequent arrest of the Indian businessman. Plot twist However, a drug test conducted on the Indian partner returned negative results, prompting investigators to delve deeper into the circumstances. During interrogation, the partner disclosed ongoing tensions with S.R. over the business, including attempts by the Emirati to dissolve the partnership and seize all profits. These revelations led to a comprehensive investigation that uncovered the premeditated nature of the accusations. Confronted with mounting evidence, S.R. confessed to orchestrating the false charges with the assistance of his wife and A.A., who had placed the drugs in the vehicle.
Gulf News
03-05-2025
- Gulf News
UAE: Couple get 10 years in jail for framing Indian business partner in drug case
Ras Al Khaimah: An Emirati man and his family members have been handed lengthy prison sentences for orchestrating a false drug case against his Indian business partner in a bid to seize control of their flourishing business. The Ras Al Khaimah Criminal Court sentenced the Emirati man, identified as S.R., and his wife to 10 years in prison each, along with fines of Dh50,000. The wife's brother, A.A., who played a central role in executing the plot, received a 15-year prison term and was fined Dh100,000. Investigations revealed that S.R., influenced by his wife, devised a plan to eliminate his Indian business partner, who had been running a rapidly growing business with substantial profits. In an attempt to assume full control of a highly profitable venture, they decided to fabricate a drug possession charge against the partner. S.R. enlisted the help of his brother-in-law, A.A., who had a history of drug use, to place drugs in the Indian partner's vehicle. Following the setup, S.R. reported his partner to the police, leading to a search of the vehicle by the authorities and the subsequent arrest of the Indian businessman. Plot twist However, a drug test conducted on the Indian partner returned negative results, prompting investigators to delve deeper into the circumstances. During interrogation, the partner disclosed ongoing tensions with S.R. over the business, including attempts by the Emirati to dissolve the partnership and seize all profits. These revelations led to a comprehensive investigation that uncovered the premeditated nature of the accusations. Confronted with mounting evidence, S.R. confessed to orchestrating the false charges with the assistance of his wife and A.A., who had placed the drugs in the vehicle.
New York Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
A Wonder Woman Costume ‘Sealed the Deal'
Alexis Erin Lockhart and Amanda Leanne Jackson, who goes by Jax, first laid eyes on one another in July of 2021. It was in tiny boxes on a screen during a Zoom A.A. meeting that Ms. Lockhart was leading. 'I remember the first time I saw Jax,' Ms. Lockhart said, 'They were goofing off with their friends.' Mx. Jackson, who uses they/them pronouns, recalls Ms. Lockhart saying, 'Do we need to stop the meeting? Is there something funny?' Ms. Lockhart said, 'I knew they were trouble then.' However, the less-than-auspicious beginning left a lasting impression on them both. A month later, they met for the first time at an in-person A.A. meeting in Houston, Texas. 'As the saying goes, meeting makers make it,' Ms. Lockhart said, referencing the recovery belief that meetings are critical to maintaining sobriety. 'I liked her,' Mx. Jackson said. 'She was kind and smart. She was sober, which was going to be something I had to have in any future relationships. I knew at that point that I wanted her in my life. I didn't know it would work out the way it did.' The two then exchanged numbers and connected between meetings, 'purely as peer support for recovery,' Ms. Lockhart said. After another in-person meeting in October 2021, 'There was this hug,' Ms. Lockhart said. 'I felt a spark that was more than friendship.' On Oct. 30, 2021, Ms. Lockhart was just getting home from a Halloween party when the phone rang. It was a video call. Ms. Lockhart was dressed as Wonder Woman and caught Mx. Jackson very much by surprise when she answered. Despite the connection, Ms. Lockhart said, 'We were not going to date,' as each wanted to prioritize their recovery. 'We hung out a lot, participated in recovery activities, and built a friendship based on honesty, trust, fondness and admiration,' she said. Though they were hesitant to move beyond friendship, they went on their first date to Sapporo Japanese Bistro in Magnolia, Texas, on Nov. 20, 2021 — but still consider Oct. 30 as their anniversary. 'It was Alexis' Wonder Woman costume that sealed the deal,' Mx. Jackson said. Mx. Jackson moved into Ms. Lockhart's home in Tomball, Texas, in the suburbs of Houston in July 2022. 'The fact that we waited 18 months was not very lesbian of us,' Ms. Lockhart said. [Click here to binge read this week's featured couples.] In September 2023, when the two were vacationing in Belize, 'Jax wrote, 'Alexis u will marry me,' in the sand,' Ms. Lockhart said. But it wasn't until Dec. 31 that they formally asked. 'We were just lying in bed,' Mx. Jackson said. 'That is the place I feel safest.' 'Jax is like a comet streaking across the sky with light and heart and brightness,' Ms. Lockhart said. 'It's one of the most beautiful things I've seen.' Ms. Lockhart, 47, works remotely as an executive marketing assistant for iRollie Marketing, which is headquartered in Utah. She earned an associate's degree in accounting from Houston Community College and a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Houston, both online. She grew up in Bremond, Texas, and came out at age 43. She has three sons from her previous marriage, one of whom died in a car accident in 2019. Four years ago, Ms. Lockhart adopted her niece. Mx. Jackson, 36, is a certified recovery support peer specialist (RSPS) for a Houston recovery center for addiction. 'One of the requirements is to have lived experience,' Mx. Jackson said. 'I work in the same place where I got sober.' Mx. Jackson's family, who lived in Fort Stockton, Texas, became aware of their relationship with a then-girlfriend after discovering hidden letters between them when Mx. Jackson was 15. Mx. Jackson was also previously married and later divorced. Ms. Lockhart celebrated 20 years of sobriety on Dec. 6, 2024, and June 2025 will mark four years for Mx. Jackson. 'We are not at all remotely the same as we were when we first met,' Mx. Jackson said. 'And we are lucky to get to know each other deeper and to love deeper. We are constantly turning toward each other.' On April 24, the two were wed by Joel Lawrence, who is ordained by Rose Ministries, on the rooftop of the Lofts at Prince in SoHo after spending the day taking photos all around the city, including Bethesda Fountain, Top of the Rock, The New York Public Library, The Stonewall Inn and Animal Haven. (The couple, who have three dogs, have fostered nearly 70 in their time together.) Two guests were in attendance: Mx. Jackson's mother, Christy Martin, and their mother's best friend, Lisa Rodriguez. After the ceremony, the couple celebrated with their guests over dinner at Senza Gluten. Marrying Ms. Lockhart felt 'like home,' Mx. Jackson said. Ms. Lockhart said the day left her in disbelief that, 'I get to do this life forever, with my best friend, my best traveling partner, my confidant, my safest place, my love.'
LBCI
25-04-2025
- LBCI
Lebanese army tightens border security after crossfire with Syria over smuggling dispute
The Lebanese army announced Friday it had implemented heightened security measures along the Lebanese-Syrian border following an exchange of fire that wounded individuals on both sides. According to a statement from the Army Command, gunfire erupted on April 24 in the Hermel region after shots were fired from Lebanese territory toward Syria, reportedly due to disputes linked to smuggling activities. Syrian forces responded, leading to injuries on both sides. In response, army units deployed in the area conducted exceptional security operations to determine the source of the gunfire on Lebanese soil. Raids were carried out alongside surveillance efforts by military intelligence, resulting in the arrest of a citizen, identified as A.A., suspected of involvement in the shooting and of belonging to an armed group active in smuggling operations. The army said it held urgent contacts with Syrian authorities, which helped de-escalate the situation. Military units remain on high alert and continue to pursue others suspected of involvement in the incident.
LBCI
25-04-2025
- LBCI
Lebanon court sentences father to 112 years of hard labor for horrific abuse of his daughters
A Lebanese criminal court issued a verdict sentencing a father to 112 years of hard labor for harassing his four underage daughters over a period of seven years, with the knowledge of their mother. He also made one of his daughters travel abroad and handed her over to a man in exchange for a sum of money, only to return to Lebanon and continue his crimes against her and her sisters. The court convicted the father, A.A., under Articles 503, 505, 506, 507, 509, 510, and 511 of the Penal Code, which relates to sexual harassment, indecent acts, rape, and intercourse with a minor, in addition to the felony of human trafficking stipulated in Article 586 of the Penal Code. The court also convicted the mother of the same crimes under Article 219 and sentenced both parents to 112 years of hard labor, without granting any mitigating factors due to the lack of justification, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency.
