Latest news with #Nasr
Iraq Business
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Iraq Business
Iraqi Election: Second Shiite Bloc Withdraws
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi electoral process in question as second Shiite bloc withdraws from polls Amid mounting fears over the future of democracy in Iraq, the Nasr (Victory) bloc led by former premier Haidar Al-Abadi (2014-18) (pictured) has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming parliamentary elections. Citing pervasive "political money" and alleged vote-buying, the bloc says electoral integrity is worsening. The full article can be viewed here.
Middle East Eye
18-07-2025
- Business
- Middle East Eye
Saudi Arabia's Neom weighs deep layoffs and relocations: Report
Neom is considering laying off up to 1,000 employees - an estimated 20 percent of its full-time staff - in another sign that Saudi Arabia is scaling back its premier giga-project, Semafor reported on Friday. The website reported that Neom was weighing the layoffs as part of a broader overhaul that could also see more than 1,000 employees leave Neom's construction site on the kingdom's northwestern Red Sea coast, and relocate to Riyadh. The plans are not finalised and could change, Semafor said. The report is the latest in a string of articles that indicate Saudi Arabia is curbing its ambitions when it comes to Neom, the gigaproject designed to remake Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast with luxury beach hotels, a ski resort, a 170km-long, futuristic city called "The Line", and an industrial park. Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Saudi Arabia asked consulting firms to review the feasibility of "The Line'. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Meanwhile, The Financial Times reported earlier this year that the kingdom had launched a "comprehensive review" of Neom. The practicality of Neom has long been a source of debate, including among investors who doubt whether the kingdom can attract people to live in the futuristic, remote city. Saudi Arabia's $ 1 trillion Public Investment Fund, known as PIF, is funding Neom's construction. The project has faced setbacks due to lower energy prices and limited interest from foreign investors. Neom is the most ambitious part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's efforts to reduce the kingdom's dependency on oil revenue and diversify its economy. He has been more successful pushing through liberalising social reforms, investing PIF money in startups and expanding Riyadh. At the same time, he has cracked down on dissent. Why Saudi Arabia can spend more money than it makes, even as oil prices drop Read More » For now, the kingdom is still reliant on oil revenue to fund its ambitious projects. Oil accounts for roughly 61 percent of Saudi Arabia's revenue, according to its 2025 budget. Brent crude, the international benchmark, has been trading below $70 per barrel for most of this year, well below the $100 per barrel level that economists say Saudi Arabia needs to balance its budget. Neom has also been plagued by internal challenges. Nadhmi al-Nasr, who managed Neom's construction from 2018 to 2024, departed from his post in November. He earned a chilling reputation, reportedly bragging that he put everyone to work 'like a slave' and 'When they drop down dead, I celebrate. That's how I do my projects.' Nasr said last year that Neom had 5,000 full-time staff and 140,000 contractors. Semafor reported that Neom is considering ending Nasr's policy that Neom staff be based at the desolate construction site. The employees who move to Riyadh will lose current benefits that include housing and meals paid for by Neom. Workers - mainly western expats - who vlogged their lives at the camp showed ultra-modern but bland housing complexes in barren landscapes.
India.com
03-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan owns some deadly weapons which can cause damage to India, one is better than US;...., the weapons are...
Pakistan owns some deadly weapons which can cause damage to India, one is better than US;...., the weapons are... Since the time of their independence, India and Pakistan have had a tense relationship. Over the years, India has made a name for itself globally in areas like technology, economy, and diplomacy. On the other hand, Pakistan has spent most of its resources and time on supporting terrorism and building its military power, even when its own people struggle for basic needs like food. Both countries have strong militaries and nuclear weapons, but India's overall military power is much stronger than Pakistan. Still, there are a few weapons Pakistan has that pose a real challenge for India. Tactical Nuclear Weapons (Short-Range Nuclear Missiles) One of the biggest concerns for India is Pakistan's tactical nuclear weapons, especially the Nasr (Hatf-9) missile. This is a short-range ballistic missile with a range of about 70 kilometers, and it is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. These weapons were designed by Pakistan as a direct answer to India's 'Cold Start' strategy, which is about launching quick military strikes across the border in case of conflict. The problem for India is that its nuclear policy is based on 'No First Use', which means it will not use nuclear weapons unless attacked first. India also focuses on massive retaliation in case of a nuclear attack, not small, tactical responses. Even the powerful S-400 missile defense system India has bought may not be fully effective against such short-range, low-flying missiles like the Nasr. Because of this, Pakistan's tactical nuclear missiles remain a serious concern for India's security strategy. Pakistan's Chinese weapons that could challenge India's air power In recent years, Pakistan has added powerful new weapons to its military, many of them bought from China. While India's air force is far superior overall, some of these new systems could pose serious challenges, especially during surprise attacks or short-term conflicts. J-10C Fighter Jet and PL-15 Missile Pakistan has purchased J-10C fighter jets from China. These jets are equipped with advanced radar and PL-15 air-to-air missiles. The PL-15 can hit targets up to 145 kilometers (around 90 miles) away, which is a greater range than India's AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. During the India-Pakistan military conflict in May 2025, Pakistan reportedly used J-10C jets to target Indian Rafale aircraft. India has top-class fighter jets like the Rafale and Mirage-2000, but the long range of the PL-15 gives Pakistan a temporary edge in aerial combat, especially if used from a safe distance. HQ-9P and HQ-16 Air Defense Systems Pakistan has also bought HQ-9P and HQ-16 surface-to-air missile systems from China. These are designed to shoot down enemy aircraft and missiles from the ground. Although India destroyed some of these systems during the 2025 conflict they still present a short-term challenge during air operations. India's own air defense, like the S-400 system, is much more advanced. But the presence of HQ-9P and HQ-16 on the battlefield can still make Indian air strikes more difficult and risky, especially in the early stages of a conflict. New weapons Pakistan is adding 1. J‑35A Stealth Fighters on the Way Pakistan has reportedly approved the purchase of 40 J‑35A 'fifth‑generation' stealth jets from China. Deliveries are expected late 2025 or early 2026. This will be China's first export of a true fifth‑generation fighter and could give Pakistan an edge in the sky. India's most advanced jets at the moment are 4.5‑generation Rafales; its own fifth‑generation projects (Mark‑1 and Mark‑2) are still a few years off. 2. Beidou Navigation System Pakistan is the first country with full military access to Beidou, China's home‑grown GPS alternative. Beidou went fully operational in 2020 and is claimed to be up to 100 times more precise than earlier versions. Working from three orbit layers (GEO, IGSO, MEO), it gives Pakistan sharper weapon targeting and secure data links, reducing reliance on the U.S. GPS network. 3. India's Answer Agni‑V ballistic missiles (range ~8,000 km) out‑reach Pakistan's Shaheen‑III (about 2,750 km). Rafale fighters and the S‑400 air‑defence system give India strong air‑combat and missile‑intercept power. India also fields roughly 180 nuclear warheads, slightly more than Pakistan's ~170, and commands stronger Army, Navy, and Air Force assets overall.
India.com
03-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan owns some deadly weapons which can cause damage to India, one is better than US;…., the weapons are…
Pakistan owns some deadly weapons which can cause damage to India, one is better than US;…., the weapons are… In recent years, Pakistan has added powerful new weapons to its military, many of them bought from China. By Analiza Pathak Edited by Analiza Pathak Advertisement Pakistan owns some deadly weapons which can cause damage to India, one is better than US;...., the weapons are... Since the time of their independence, India and Pakistan have had a tense relationship. Over the years, India has made a name for itself globally in areas like technology, economy, and diplomacy. On the other hand, Pakistan has spent most of its resources and time on supporting terrorism and building its military power, even when its own people struggle for basic needs like food. Both countries have strong militaries and nuclear weapons, but India's overall military power is much stronger than Pakistan. Still, there are a few weapons Pakistan has that pose a real challenge for India. Advertisement === Tactical Nuclear Weapons (Short-Range Nuclear Missiles) One of the biggest concerns for India is Pakistan's tactical nuclear weapons, especially the Nasr (Hatf-9) missile. This is a short-range ballistic missile with a range of about 70 kilometers, and it is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. These weapons were designed by Pakistan as a direct answer to India's 'Cold Start' strategy, which is about launching quick military strikes across the border in case of conflict. Advertisement === The problem for India is that its nuclear policy is based on 'No First Use', which means it will not use nuclear weapons unless attacked first. India also focuses on massive retaliation in case of a nuclear attack, not small, tactical responses. Even the powerful S-400 missile defense system India has bought may not be fully effective against such short-range, low-flying missiles like the Nasr. Because of this, Pakistan's tactical nuclear missiles remain a serious concern for India's security strategy. Pakistan's Chinese weapons that could challenge India's air power In recent years, Pakistan has added powerful new weapons to its military, many of them bought from China. While India's air force is far superior overall, some of these new systems could pose serious challenges, especially during surprise attacks or short-term conflicts. J-10C Fighter Jet and PL-15 Missile Pakistan has purchased J-10C fighter jets from China. These jets are equipped with advanced radar and PL-15 air-to-air missiles. The PL-15 can hit targets up to 145 kilometers (around 90 miles) away, which is a greater range than India's AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. During the India-Pakistan military conflict in May 2025, Pakistan reportedly used J-10C jets to target Indian Rafale aircraft. India has top-class fighter jets like the Rafale and Mirage-2000, but the long range of the PL-15 gives Pakistan a temporary edge in aerial combat, especially if used from a safe distance. HQ-9P and HQ-16 Air Defense Systems Pakistan has also bought HQ-9P and HQ-16 surface-to-air missile systems from China. These are designed to shoot down enemy aircraft and missiles from the ground. Although India destroyed some of these systems during the 2025 conflict they still present a short-term challenge during air operations. India's own air defense, like the S-400 system, is much more advanced. But the presence of HQ-9P and HQ-16 on the battlefield can still make Indian air strikes more difficult and risky, especially in the early stages of a conflict. New weapons Pakistan is adding 1. J‑35A Stealth Fighters on the Way Pakistan has reportedly approved the purchase of 40 J‑35A 'fifth‑generation' stealth jets from China. Deliveries are expected late 2025 or early 2026. This will be China's first export of a true fifth‑generation fighter and could give Pakistan an edge in the sky. India's most advanced jets at the moment are 4.5‑generation Rafales; its own fifth‑generation projects (Mark‑1 and Mark‑2) are still a few years off. 2. Beidou Navigation System Pakistan is the first country with full military access to Beidou, China's home‑grown GPS alternative. Beidou went fully operational in 2020 and is claimed to be up to 100 times more precise than earlier versions. Working from three orbit layers (GEO, IGSO, MEO), it gives Pakistan sharper weapon targeting and secure data links, reducing reliance on the U.S. GPS network. 3. India's Answer Agni‑V ballistic missiles (range ~8,000 km) out‑reach Pakistan's Shaheen‑III (about 2,750 km). Rafale fighters and the S‑400 air‑defence system give India strong air‑combat and missile‑intercept power. India also fields roughly 180 nuclear warheads, slightly more than Pakistan's ~170, and commands stronger Army, Navy, and Air Force assets overall.
Gulf Today
29-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Online promotion of counterfeit products is classified as electronic fraud in UAE
Promoting fake products online is regarded as an electronic fraud under Article 40 of the UAE's Federal Law No. 5 of 2012 on Combating Cybercrimes, which cannot be considered a minor commercial violation but is a serious offense with legal consequences, according to Lawyer Adnan Obaid Al Shaali. Al Shaali explained that perpetrators often create fake accounts, websites, or data on social media platforms or e-commerce sites, using deceptive images or false claims about non-existent products or services at the aim of misleading consumers and unlawfully seize their money for illicit gains. He further highlighted that Article 11 of the UAE law stipulates penalties for creating a fake website, account, or email address and falsely attributing it to an individual or entity. Offenders face imprisonment and a fine ranging from Dhs50,000 to Dhs200,000, or either of these penalties. In case the fake account or website is used to defame the person it is attributed to, the punishment is escalated to a minimum of two years' imprisonment. Regarding the dud cheques, Dr. Nasr said that the cheque is considered an executable instrument under the UAE Commercial Transactions Law, which allows the holder to directly approach the Execution Judge to recover the owed amount without initiating criminal proceedings or filing a police report. Dr Nasr said that the holder has to go through several steps to obtain his money including getting bank notification or bank endorsement on the back of the cheque stating "insufficient funds" and a certificate detailing the issuer's account information. Step two can be done by submitting Execution Request to the competent civil court, attaching the bounced cheque, bank certificate, and proof of debt, while in step 3, the court will notify the debtor to pay the amount within 15 days of receiving the notice. As a precautionary measure, the holder can request a travel ban on the debtor until the debt is settled. Dr Nasr stated that under recent legislative amendments, a bounced cheque is no longer a criminal offense, except in specific cases such as: Using it for fraud, withdrawing the entire balance before the cheque's due date, forging the cheque or issuing an illegal non-payment order to the bank.
