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Gulf Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Victim's brother denies pardon for Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, questions legitimacy of negotiations
Gulf Today Report Confusion surrounds the status of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya's death sentence in Yemen, as conflicting reports have surfaced regarding its cancellation. News agency ANI, citing reliable sources, reported on Tuesday that her death sentence has not been overturned, contradicting earlier claims made by other parties. 'Information being circulated by certain individuals regarding the Nimisha Priya case is inaccurate,' the sources told ANI. Despite recent reports hinting at a potential breakthrough in the case of Nimisha Priya, the victim's family has publicly denied any agreement or pardon. Abdul Fattah Mahdi, brother of the murdered Yemeni national Talal Mahdi, issued a strong rebuttal on Facebook, rejecting claims that he had forgiven Priya. He also raised concerns over the credibility of the ongoing negotiations surrounding the case. Mahdi argued that, under Islamic law, granting clemency in murder cases is not permissible. He also criticised the mediators involved in the talks, alleging that they failed to consult or coordinate with Talal's immediate family. Earlier, the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar issued a statement claiming that a high-level meeting in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, had resulted in the full cancellation of the death sentence, which had previously been suspended. 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was earlier put on hold, has now been completely revoked,' the Grand Mufti's office had said. As of now, there is no official confirmation from Yemeni authorities regarding the reported decision. Priya's family, including her 13-year-old daughter Mishel and her husband Thomas, had travelled to Yemen in support of her case. They were accompanied by Indian Christian evangelist Dr. KA Paul, who has been advocating for her release. Together, they made an appeal to the Houthi authorities for leniency. In an emotional video shared by PTI, Mishel is seen expressing her love for her mother in both Malayalam and English, saying, 'I love you, mamma.' The audio, however, is not clearly audible. Last week, India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that it is closely monitoring the case and providing full support to Priya and her family. The ministry also stated that it is coordinating with 'friendly governments' to help resolve the matter diplomatically. Nimisha Priya had been sentenced to death in Yemen for the murder of a Yemeni national. Her case has drawn significant attention in India and abroad, with calls for diplomatic intervention and clemency on humanitarian grounds.
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
SureFlow introduces AI-driven solutions to reduce energy consumption
The global smart cities market is poised for strong growth, driven by rapid urbanisation, government initiatives, and significant development in technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G, says an industry veteran. Sebastien Dui, SureFlow's dynamic Chief Executive Officer, said the GCC countries are heavily investing in smart city initiatives as part of their economic diversification and sustainability goals with projects like Saudi Arabia's Neom and Dubai's Smart Dubai Plan. 'Dubai's smart city initiatives are commendable, and they are a part of the bigger sustainability and AI transformation objectives of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050,' Sebastien Dui told Gulf Today during an exclusive interview. Highlighting sustainability goals of futuristic projects, the CEO of UK-based SureFlow said smart cities are increasingly focused on reducing carbon footprints through smart grids, renewable energy, and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. 'Basically, smart cities integrate digital technology into urban infrastructure to improve efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. These interconnected technologies optimise city operations through real-time data collection and analysis, enabling benefits like reduced traffic congestion, optimised energy consumption, improved public safety, and enhanced household services to ultimately create a more sustainable way of living for the community,' Sebastien Dui said. Homeowners in smart cities are empowered through advanced technologies to optimiae their energy consumption. For example, based on solar availability and grid demands, they can be informed about the best time to charge their electric vehicles vehicle, avoid higher energy tariffs through smart recommendations, and be alerted if a hidden water flow anomaly or leak occurs. Smart cities enable this level of intelligent living while reducing energy costs significantly. 'This is where SureFlow comes in, as a cutting-edge technology company that leveraged its dedicated in-house R&D lab to develop comprehensive AI-powered energy monitoring and optimisation solutions. We have innovated a comprehensive AI-empowered system that can contribute to achieving these smart city objectives, through our 24/7 energy monitoring system that empowers smart city consumers with a better understanding of their energy usage patterns, so they can optimise them,' Sebastien Dui said. 'Our solution also addresses the top concern of homeowners, which is energy cost, by keeping the consumers always alert about their water, electricity, gas, and solar power usage, cutting extra bill costs at every corner. Homeowners in smart cities, will achieve these goals as a part of a more engaged, environmentally conscious community,' he added. Sebastien Dui said SureFlow products and smart cities are interconnected and the consumers are direct beneficiary of this sustainable ecosystem.
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
UAE to resume Gaza aid airdrops immediately, says Sheikh Abdullah
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter The United Arab Emirates will resume aid drops over Gaza at once, its foreign minister said on Saturday, citing the "critical" humanitarian situation in the blockaded territory, where aid groups have warned of mass starvation. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical and unprecedented level. In a post today on his account on the social media platform "X," Sheikh Abdullah said: "We will continue delivering relief support to those most in need - by land, air, and sea," reaffirming the immediate resumption of airdrop operations for humanitarian aid. Sheikh Abdullah stressed that the UAE's commitment to alleviating suffering and supporting the Palestinian people is resolute and unwavering. The United Arab Emirates remains at the forefront of efforts to deliver life-saving assistance to the Palestinian people. We will ensure essential aid reaches those most in need, whether through land, air or sea. These remarks come as the UAE continues, through various humanitarian initiatives, to send urgent relief and medical aid to the Gaza Strip in an effort to alleviate the humanitarian crisis faced by its residents. The UAE is among the leading nations that responded quickly at the outset of the crisis by establishing both air and sea bridges to aid those affected. This includes the launch of the "Birds of Goodness" operation, during which dozens of airdrops of food and relief supplies have been conducted over the Strip.
Gulf Today
20-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
MBR Library discusses shining traits of VP's leadership
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library organised a session to discuss the book 'The Sheikh CEO: Lessons in Leadership', to celebrate the birthday of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The book delves into His Highness's inspiring principles of leadership. The session was introduced by the book's author, Dr. Yasar Jarrar, Board Member at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. He presented to the audience the key leadership principles adopted by His Highness, which have contributed to qualitative transformations in government, economic, and social work in Dubai. The session highlighted His Highness's forward-looking philosophy and his vision for anticipating the future. Dr. Jarrar cited His Highness's statement: "The future does not wait. The future can be designed and built today." He emphasised the role of leadership in transforming visions into tangible achievements and motivating individuals toward creativity and excellence. The session discussed Dubai's transformation into a global model for future cities, and how His Highness adopted a policy of deliberate challenge and risk-taking to achieve qualitative accomplishments in record time. Jarrar explained that effective leadership, in accordance with His Highness's vision, relies on harnessing individual energies and unifying collective efforts to achieve major goals, while stressing the need for leaders to strive to make Dubai "number one" in multiple fields. Furthermore, the session included an open dialogue with the audience, allowing participants to ask questions and share their experiences and ideas. In his closing remarks, Dr. Jarrar emphasised that the leadership lessons inspired by the experience of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum will remain a source of inspiration for future generations, calling on everyone to embrace His Highness's leadership philosophy and creating remarkable accomplishments. At the end of the session, Dr. Jarrar signed copies of his book for the attendees. The session, part of a programme to empower young minds and enhance the role of women in society, witnessed a remarkable turnout of youth and those interested in leadership and management. The attendees engaged with the inspiring ideas presented on transforming challenges into opportunities and creating positive change. Recently, the Mohammed bin Rashid Library (MBRL) gifted 5,000 books in both Arabic and English to national service recruits in the armed forces, reaffirming its role in spreading knowledge and fostering a culture of reading as a way of life in society. This initiative, part of the "A World Reads" initiative, coincides with the Reading Month. Dr. Mohammed Salem Al Mazrooei, Board Member of the MBRL Foundation, emphasised that this initiative reflects the library's commitment to promoting reading and intellectual development among the nation's youth, contributing to the creation of a creative and knowledgeable society capable of facing future challenges. He stated that encouraging armed forces recruits to read helps empower them with knowledge and prepares them to become effective leaders in the future. Since its launch in April 2023, the initiative has reached a quarter of a million beneficiaries, with the library donating 80,000 books to more than 200 institutions and schools. The library is also inviting publishers and cultural organisations to donate books in support of this initiative. A report last year says many achievements have been logged by it and it has achieved many milestones during the period. They have contributed to consolidating its position as a prominent cultural and knowledge hub of the UAE. Since its inauguration, it has attracted nearly 1.5 million visitors of different age groups and nationalities. The library has also witnessed a significant increase in the number of books added to its collection, with more than 225,300 new Arabic books being included, with approximately 54,000 new books being in non-Arabic languages. It has organised nearly 500 diverse events, including cultural, scientific, arts, and literary commemorations, for different age groups, in both Arabic and English. They included a series of workshops, seminars, literary evenings, and art exhibitions. MBRL welcomed more than 200 high-level official and diplomatic delegations from inside and outside the UAE. The visits were to foster cultural ties and knowledge cooperation between the UAE and other countries and to contribute to the exchange of expertise and knowledge.
Gulf Today
16-07-2025
- Gulf Today
Pakistani man sues airline for wrongly flying him to Jeddah
Tariq Butt, Gulf Today Correspondent An engineer approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) against a private airline and others for wrongly flying him to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, instead of Karachi from Lahore airport earlier this month. Filing a plea before the SHC, petitioner Malik Shahzain Ahmed sought compensation and an inquiry into the incident. He cited the ministry of aviation, Civil Aviation Authority, Airport Security Force, Federal Investigation Agency and AirSial as respondents, and sought a directive for effective implementation of mandatory standard operating procedures (SOPs) and documentation procedures. The petitioner submitted that he is a resident of Korangi, Karachi, and frequently travels within the country for work-related assignments as he is a professional civil engineer. He stated that on July 7, he had purchased a ticket of AirSial to travel from Lahore to Karachi, but due to alleged gross negligence and procedural failure of the airline, he was "wrongfully and unlawfully boarded on an international flight of the same airline to Jeddah despite lacking valid passport, visa and international travel clearance.' Ahmed also submitted that such reckless conduct of the private airline resulted in his prolonged detention and interrogations at the Jeddah Airport and eventually he was deported back to Lahore by the Saudi immigration authorities without any assistance or representation of the respondent airline. He said that after returning to Lahore, he was again compelled to purchase a new ticket to reach Karachi. He said he sent a formal legal notice to the airline for legal intimation and initiation of appropriate action, but no response had been received so far. He alleged that the airline has failed to offer any apology, remedy, or compensation and instead attempted to suppress the incident and such action amounted to gross violation of his fundamental rights as guaranteed in the Constitution. Ahmed's lawyer Nawaz Dahri submitted that besides violation of constitutional provisions, such an act has also caused immense mental distress, financial loss and reputational damage to him as well as exposing him to criminal liability abroad. He also argued that the regulatory authorities have also failed to perform their statutory duties in order to prevent such gross misconduct and their inaction has caused violations. The lawyer maintained that actions of respondents have also violated various laws and regulations including Rules 272 and 273 the Civil Aviation Rules 1997 requiring passengers' verification, the Pakistan Immigration Ordinance 1979, barring international travel without valid documents and the Montreal Convention 1999 and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 9 binding the air carrier to ensure secure and lawful travel procedures. Barrister Taimur Malik, who contested the 2024 polls with the support of the PTI and is a member of the party's legal team, also called for Dr Yasmin Rashid to be "granted the right to bail like thousands of others in these cases'. He said that the PTI had asked the courts repeatedly to decide her bail applications. "More than two years in prison as an under-trial prisoner is punishment itself before any case has even been decided,' he added. Because of her old age and different ailments, Dr Yasmin Rashid is not keeping a good health for a long time.
