Latest news with #AQ
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Yemen's al-Qaida branch leader threatens Trump, Musk and others
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The leader of al-Qaida's Yemen branch has threatened both U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip in his first video message since taking over the group last year. The half-hour video message by Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, which spread online early Saturday via supporters of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, also included calls for lone-wolf militants to assassinate leaders in Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf Arab states over the war, which has decimated Gaza. The video of al-Awlaki's speech showed images of Trump and Musk, as well as U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of State Pete Hegseth. It also included images of logos of Musk's businesses, including the electric carmaker Tesla. 'There are no red lines after what happened and is happening to our people in Gaza," al-Awlaki said. "Reciprocity is legitimate.' Though believed to be weakened in recent years due to infighting and suspected U.S. drone strikes killing its leaders, the group known by the acronym AQ had been considered the most dangerous branch of al-Qaida still operating after the 2011 killing by U.S. Navy SEALs of founder Osama bin Laden, who masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In 2022, a U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan killed bin Laden's successor, Ayman al-Zawahri, who also helped plot 9/11. The Sept. 11 attacks then began decades of war by the U.S. in Afghanistan and Iraq, and fomented the rise of the Islamic State group. Al-Awlaki already has a $6 million U.S. bounty on his head, as Washington says al-Awlaki 'has publicly called for attacks against the United States and its allies.' He replaced AQ leader Khalid al-Batarfi, whose death was announced by the group in 2024. AQ seizing onto the Israel-Hamas war follows the efforts of Yemen's Houthi rebels to do the same. The Iranian-backed group has launched missile attacks on Israel and targeted commercial vessels moving through the Red Sea corridor, as well as American warships. The U.S. Navy has described their campaign against the Houthis as the most intense combat it has faced since World War II. The Trump administration also launched its own intense campaign of strikes on the Houthis, which only ended before the president's recent trip to the Middle East. The Houthis' international profile rose as the group remains mired in Yemen's long-stalemated war. Al-Awlaki may be betting on the same for his group, which U.N. experts have estimated has between 3,000 and 4,000 active fighters and passive members. The group raises money by robbing banks and money exchange shops, as well as smuggling weapons, counterfeiting currencies and ransom operations, according to the U.N. The Shiite Zaydi Houthis have previously denied working with AQ, a Sunni extremist group. However, AQ targeting of the Houthis has dropped in recent years, while the militants keep attacking Saudi-led coalition forces who have battled the Houthis. 'As the Houthis gain popularity as leaders of the 'Arab and Muslim world's resistance' against Israel, al-Awlaki seeks to challenge their dominance by presenting himself as equally concerned about the situation in Gaza,' said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert of the Basha Report risk advisory firm. 'For a national security and foreign policy community increasingly disengaged from Yemen, this video is a clear reminder: Yemen still matters.'
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Sexualized image isn't ‘intimate' if it's already been shared publicly, B.C. tribunal finds
A woman seeking compensation for the non-consensual sharing of intimate images has had her case dismissed by a B.C tribunal which found she had no 'reasonable expectation of privacy.' The woman, referred to as 'AQ' was seeking $5,000 in damages, which is the limit available through the Civil Resolution Tribunal. The respondent, referred to as 'BV,' did not deny sharing the image of AQ in a blog post. No details about the image in question are provided, but tribunal vice-chair Eric Regehr found it 'clearly' met some of the criteria of an intimate image, as outlined in the province's Intimate Images Protection Act. Namely, he said it showed 'AQ engaging in a sexual act, nude or nearly nude, or exposing her genitals, anal region, or breasts.' But the legislation's definition of an intimate image is two-fold, Regehr's decision noted. The second part of the test is whether someone 'had a reasonable expectation of privacy at the time the images were recorded, and also when they were shared.' The case was complicated by the fact that AQ had shared the image herself on a 'major social networking site,' according to Regehr. 'AQ said this post was inadvertent, but I did not accept that evidence. I found that the post was intentional,' the decision said. Finding AQ had published the image, the tribunal had to weigh whether there was a reasonable expectation of privacy in the case. AQ argued the harmful impact of the image's sharing ought to be considered and that 'she is the subject of often vicious online harassment from multiple people, including BV, who frequently use the image as part of offensive posts,' according to the decision. Regehr acknowledged that one of the purposes of the legislation is 'to promote individual autonomy over their intimate images with a view to reducing harm.' But he also found an image does not meet the legal threshold of being 'intimate' if there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. 'I find that a reasonable person understands that by posting something broadly on the internet, such as in a publicly viewable social media post, they have functionally lost all control over it. They have offered it for the entire world to see,' he wrote. 'This is an action inconsistent with reasonably expecting privacy in the image in the future. I find that by posting an image in a public online place, an individual forfeits any reasonable expectation of privacy over that image. It does not matter how graphic the image is, how much they later regret posting it, or how upsetting it is to see it resurface.' AQ's complaint was dismissed on those grounds. The tribunal also considered an allegation about a second explicit image, but found no evidence it was shared by BV. A counterclaim from BV, alleging AQ shared a nude photo of them on social media, was also dismissed, with the tribunal finding insufficient evidence that AQ was the one behind the anonymous social media account that shared it. The province introduced the IIPA in 2023, the Civil Resolution Tribunal the jurisdiction to address these types of claims to provide an alternative to the more difficult, lengthy and potentially costly options of trying to pursue redress through criminal or civil court.
Sky News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Conservatives call for Labour's Lucy Powell to resign over grooming gang remarks
The Conservatives are calling for Lucy Powell to resign after the Labour MP's exchange with a commentator about grooming gangs. The comment was made by Ms Powell, the leader of the House of Commons, after Conservative political commentator Tim Montgomerie started to ask a question on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions. "I don't know if you saw the documentary on Channel 4 about rape gangs," he started, in relation to the recent programme Groomed: A National Scandal, which centred around five girls who were sexually abused by rape gangs. Ms Powell, who is MP for Manchester Central, responded: "Oh, we want to blow that little trumpet now, do we? Yeah, OK, let's get that dog whistle out." Sir Keir Starmer and the government have been under sustained pressure from political opponents over the handling of historical sex abuse cases in the UK. ConservativeHome founder Mr Montgomerie, who will be appearing on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, continued: "There is a real issue where… There were so many people in local government, in the authorities, who, for good reason, were worried about upsetting community tensions, that those girls went undefended." The conversation moved on, but politicians criticised Ms Powell's comment, with some calling for her to resign. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said in a statement: "This shocking outburst from a Labour cabinet minister belittles the thousands of girls and women who were raped by grooming gangs over decades. "We have consistently called for a national enquiry in parliament, which has been blocked by Labour ministers who don't seem to know or care about the disgusting crimes which have been perpetrated. "Anyone who has seen the shocking Channel 4 documentary will know that it is clearer than ever that this is not a 'dog whistle'. "To dismiss thousands of victims who were raped and the cover up that followed is sickening. She should resign." Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said: "Labour's Lucy Powell thinks it's a 'dog whistle' to demand arrests and accountability for the rape gangs. What a disgusting betrayal of the victims. They are part of the cover-up." Ousted Reform MP Rupert Lowe, now an independent, shared a letter he wrote to Ms Powell demanding she apologise, calling her comments "deeply, deeply offensive". On X on Saturday night, Ms Powell said: "In the heat of a discussion on AQ, I would like to clarify that I regard issues of child exploitation and grooming with the utmost seriousness. I'm sorry if this was unclear. "I was challenging the political point scoring around it, not the issue itself. As a constituency MP I've dealt with horrendous cases. This Gvt is acting to get to the truth, and deliver justice." Sky News has contacted the office for the Leader of the House of Commons for comment. The long-running row over grooming cases has continued after Labour promised five local inquiries into grooming gangs in January. Tech billionaire Elon Musk had accused Sir Keir of being "complicit" in the failure of authorities to protect victims and prosecute abusers while the PM was director of public prosecutions from 2008-2013.
Gulf Insider
31-03-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Sanctioned Syrian Population Desperately Trying To Access Oil & Gas
Syria's severe power shortages have continued throughout the country, also as many towns and cities remain largely destroyed following well over a decade of war. Rebuilding seems nowhere on the horizon as access to global investment and materials has been blocked by Washington. The post-Assad Hayat Tahrir al-Sham government under Jolani (former AQ/ISIS commander) has just announced a tender to purchase around 7 million barrels of light crude oil, according to a fresh petroleum ministry statement. The purchase of 7 million barrels of light crude oil is to supply to the Baniyas refinery, Syrian media has specified. Further, this week has seen limited efforts the ease the population's ongoing petrol woes. State-run SANA announced Tuesday, for example, that ship carrying 5,600 tons of gasoline arrived at the oil terminal of the Syrian Oil Transport Company Syrian Petroleum in Baniyas. The last several years, as US sanctions have tightened, have seen long lines at gas stations and people having to ration fuel. Additionally, cities and households have had to endure the majority of the day with no electricity. Often this is merely an hour of power to homes a day, but there are reports that Damascus this month has improved to several hours of electricity daily. This bettered energy situation in the capital may be the first fruits of a deal which was struck with Qatar two weeks ago. 'Qatar will provide natural gas supplies to Syria with the aim of generating 400 megawatts of electricity a day, in a measure to help address the war-battered country's severe electricity shortages,' as quoted in SANA. 'Syria's interim Minister of Electricity Omar Shaqrouq said the Qatari supplies are expected to increase the daily state-provided electricity supply from two to four hours per day,' AP also reported. 'Under the deal, Qatar will send 2 million cubic meters of natural gas a day to the Deir Ali power station, south of Damascus, via a pipeline passing through Jordan,' the report indicated. It's still unclear what future fate awaits the oil and gas fields of Syria's northeast Deir Ezzor and Hasakah regions. US troops and their proxies – the Syrian Democratic Forces – still occupy these. Pre-occupation Syria drew enough resources from these fields in order to supply domestic needs. Click here to read more…
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Undiscovered Gems With Potential February 2025
As global markets continue to navigate a landscape of rising inflation and volatile treasury yields, U.S. stock indexes are climbing toward record highs, with small-cap stocks lagging behind their larger counterparts. In this dynamic environment, identifying undiscovered gems becomes crucial as investors seek companies that exhibit strong fundamentals and resilience amidst economic uncertainty. Name Debt To Equity Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Health Rating Zambia Sugar 1.04% 20.60% 44.34% ★★★★★★ Wilson Bank Holding NA 7.87% 8.22% ★★★★★★ Ovostar Union 0.01% 10.19% 49.85% ★★★★★★ Industrias del Cobre Sociedad Anónima NA 19.08% 22.33% ★★★★★★ Tchaikapharma High Quality Medicines AD 9.38% 6.91% 31.36% ★★★★★★ Arab Insurance Group (B.S.C.) NA -59.20% 20.33% ★★★★★☆ National General Insurance (P.J.S.C.) NA 11.69% 30.36% ★★★★★☆ Steamships Trading 33.60% 4.17% 3.90% ★★★★★☆ Sociedad Matriz SAAM 38.79% -0.59% -19.23% ★★★★☆☆ BOSQAR d.d 94.35% 39.11% 23.56% ★★★★☆☆ Click here to see the full list of 4733 stocks from our Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener. We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: AQ Group AB (publ) is a company that manufactures and sells components and systems for industrial customers in Sweden, other European countries, and internationally, with a market cap of SEK15.82 billion. Operations: AQ Group generates revenue primarily from its Component segment, contributing SEK7.75 billion, and its System segment, adding SEK1.49 billion. The company's net profit margin reflects its financial performance efficiency in managing costs and generating profit from total sales. AQ Group, with a market position that often flies under the radar, has demonstrated solid financial health. Over the past year, its earnings grew by 5.2%, outpacing the Electrical industry's negative 20.2% growth rate. The company is trading at 3.4% below its estimated fair value, indicating potential undervaluation in the market. Impressively, AQ's interest payments are well covered by EBIT at a ratio of 56 times, reflecting robust financial management. Despite some insider selling recently, AQ's debt-to-equity ratio improved from 30.2% to 14.4% over five years, underscoring effective debt management and strategic positioning for future growth prospects. Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of AQ Group stock in this health report. Assess AQ Group's past performance with our detailed historical performance reports. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Wuxi Longsheng Technology Co., Ltd is a company based in China that specializes in the manufacturing of auto parts, with a market capitalization of CN¥8.88 billion. Operations: Wuxi Longsheng Technology Co., Ltd generates revenue primarily from the manufacturing of auto parts. The company's financial performance highlights a notable trend in its gross profit margin, which stands at 28.5%. Wuxi Longsheng Technology, a dynamic player in the auto components sector, recorded an impressive earnings growth of 92.6% over the past year, significantly outpacing the industry's 10.5%. The debt to equity ratio has risen from 43.7% to 65.1% over five years, but interest payments are well covered by EBIT at a comfortable 13.2 times coverage. Despite not being free cash flow positive recently, its net debt to equity ratio of 29.4% is satisfactory and suggests prudent financial management. A share repurchase program worth up to CNY 200 million indicates confidence in future prospects and aims to enhance shareholder value by reducing capital through buybacks at no more than CNY 40 per share within a year using company funds and special loans. Get an in-depth perspective on Wuxi Longsheng TechnologyLtd's performance by reading our health report here. Evaluate Wuxi Longsheng TechnologyLtd's historical performance by accessing our past performance report. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Leopalace21 Corporation operates in Japan, focusing on the construction, leasing, and sale of residential properties including apartments and condominiums, with a market capitalization of approximately ¥189.98 billion. Operations: Leopalace21's primary revenue stream comes from its Leasing Business, including development activities, generating approximately ¥415.15 billion. The Elderly Care Business contributes an additional ¥13.74 billion to the company's revenue. Leopalace21 is making waves with its impressive 46.1% earnings growth over the past year, outpacing the Real Estate industry's 26.3%. Trading at a significant 65.7% discount to its estimated fair value, it offers an attractive proposition compared to peers. The company's debt-to-equity ratio has improved from 51.7% to 35.4% in five years, indicating better financial health and management of liabilities. With EBIT covering interest payments by a substantial margin of 21.6 times, Leopalace21 seems well-positioned financially despite forecasts suggesting an average annual earnings decline of 8.8% over the next three years. Navigate through the intricacies of Leopalace21 with our comprehensive health report here. Learn about Leopalace21's historical performance. Embark on your investment journey to our 4733 Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals selection here. Already own these companies? Bring clarity to your investment decisions by linking up your portfolio with Simply Wall St, where you can monitor all the vital signs of your stocks effortlessly. Discover a world of investment opportunities with Simply Wall St's free app and access unparalleled stock analysis across all markets. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include OM:AQ SZSE:300680 and TSE:8848. 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