Latest news with #Rafique
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Warning after three bin lorry fires in one week
Fires broke out inside three bin lorries in one week in Leeds, prompting the council to issue an urgent warning about the safe disposal of batteries and barbecues. In the incidents in Burmantofts, Armley and Middleton, waste crews saw smoke emerge from their wagons due to fires caused by discarded barbecues or batteries from vapes or other devices. Workers had to tip the smouldering waste on to the road to enable it to be safely extinguished, following advice from firefighters, a Leeds city Council spokesperson said. Mohammed Rafique, executive member for environment, said incorrectly discarded rubbish can cause "danger to our crews and staff, damaged vehicles and inconvenience for residents". No workers were hurt during the fires and the bin lorries, roads and nearby properties were not damaged. The mess at each location was cleared up as quickly as possible, a council spokesperson said. But the incidents did cause extra expense and inconvenienced neighbours and drivers, they added. Rafique said: "Fires in bin wagons or at recycling centres can be started from the smallest spark or heat source." The council urged people to dispose of batteries or devices like vapes that contain lithium-ion batteries at the place they were purchased from, supermarket recycling points or the tip. They advised people to allow disposable barbecues to fully cool down, soak them in water and wrap them in foil before putting them in the bin. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Battery bin fire sparks recycling reminder Batteries warning after second fire at waste plant
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
How Haider Rafique is putting crypto exchange OKX on the map
Call him a dealmaker, a rainmaker, or even a power broker – but Haider Rafique gets things done. As the managing partner and chief marketing officer at OKX, he is helping put one of the world's biggest crypto exchanges on the global map. One of the ways he's doing this is by wrangling high-profile partnerships and sponsorship deals that range from the football pitch to the racetrack, to the world of the arts. Rafique is a busy man, and KT LUXE caught up with him in the back of his chauffeur-driven ride to a major crypto conference in Dubai recently. OKX scored a massive win there as one of the main sponsors. Not only was it the biggest crypto event to ever take place in the emirate, but Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump, took to the OKX stage at one point, giving the brand another major boost. Rafique went to school in Abu Dhabi and has seen the UAE progress at a rapid pace over the past two decades. Coming full circle, he drove the sponsorship deal that put OKX on the shirt sleeves of Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City FC. The football club was bought by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice-President and Deputy Prime Minister via his Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG). Its head coach is Pep Guardiola. The team has experienced unprecedented success, winning multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups, and the UEFA Champions League, while expanding into a global football enterprise through the City Football Group. 'I think we can do a lot more with Man City, because I think people living here feel Man City is a [beacon of] national pride for them. We need to do more to help them celebrate their wins,' he said. Rafique talked about advertising the club's successes with huge billboards along Sheikh Zayed Road and bringing the team here. 'I want to bring Pep here and do a session. I want (star striker Erling) Haaland to kick a ball from one tower to another. Yeah, crazy stunts. I want people to be excited and energised.' The club has not achieved its recent high standards this season, and missed out on the chance to win five Premier League titles in a row this year. 'They're not having the best season. But that's the time when you want to bet on your partners, to show them your support.' That's how Rafique describes OKX's involvement with McLaren; the firm started sponsoring them during a poor period for the racing team. It has massively improved and McLaren continues to lead both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris currently occupy the top two positions in the Drivers' standings. Passionate about Formula 1, Rafique counts a number of current and former professional racing car drivers as his friends, including McLaren's current line-up. He is also friends with actors through OKX's sponsorship of the Tribeca Film Festival, which was established by actor Robert De Niro, producer Jane Rosenthal, and real estate investor Craig Hatkoff. If that wasn't enough, Rafique headed the deal for OKX to become the first official global sponsor of Majesticks GC, one of the 12 teams in the LIV Golf League. As part of the sponsorship, team members, including Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, sport the OKX logo on their team kits during tournaments across the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. LIV Golf is owned and funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds. It has invested nearly $5 billion (Dh18 billion) into LIV Golf since its inception in 2021. During our plush ride, the shimmering skyscrapers of Dubai's rapidly expanding financial district passed by along with the glistening Museum of the Future, often described as the most beautiful building in the world. Rafique spoke about Eric's presence in Dubai, and plans for a Trump Tower in the city. The skyscraper is expected to be built by 2031. Rafiq mused about building OKX's own tower as he stared out from the taxi at the expanding Dubai skyline. 'Yes, I would love that,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Wrong to accuse URA detractors of stoking racial fear, says Pejuang man
Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali said those who accuse opponents of the Urban Renewal Bill of stoking racial tension are 'barking up the wrong tree'. PETALING JAYA : Accusing detractors of the proposed urban renewal law of stoking racial fear or tension is a gross misunderstanding of the bill, Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali said. Rafique said those who made such claims were 'barking up the wrong tree', adding that in some cases, those in government had racialised the matter. In a statement today, he said no one was against urbanisation or improving the living conditions of Malaysians of all races and creeds. However, the proposed legislation, in its original form, was a threat that cut across every segment of society, irrespective of race. For one, the Urban Renewal Act (URA) will empower a committee at federal and state levels to declare any space as urban renewal areas by way of a government gazette. He said there is no known court mechanism in the bill to bring parties' grievances if one were to contest the said notification. 'Currently, anyone dissatisfied with any takeover or development can bring the matter to court. 'However, the URA bill is silent on this,' he said. Rafique also said under the proposed law, the consent threshold is lowered, with buildings above 30 years of age subject to urban renewal if 75% of the owners agree. While for abandoned buildings, the requirement is 50% or half of the owners consent to it. He also said the URA mechanism does not elaborate on market value or fair compensation, but instead makes mention of value which is not less than what the owner can get before the execution of the intended urban renewal. 'To simplify and pigeon hole everyone who is against the URA bill as stoking racial fear or tension represents total failure to understand the said bill,' he said. He said the threats posed to the people is why there is a need for a proper full study of the URA, not only by those living in People's Housing Programme (PPR) homes, but by residents in gated and guarded condominium complexes whose building is 30 years old. 'The URA, if not modified to suit the legal and lawful demands of ordinary Malaysians, will lead to a class war between the poor rakyat and the oligarchy developers,' he said. In a letter published earlier today, Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid hit out at some quarters of the opposition for resorting to 'an all-too-familiar playbook of using race to stoke fear'. Earlier this year, Syerleena had also questioned the intention of those opposing the proposed URA in the wake of the opposition's claims that it was a subtle move to displace the Malays and Indians.
Free Malaysia Today
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Pensioners get all-clear for protest rally on May 31
A group of pensioners, including those from the armed services, at a gathering at the veterans' affairs department in February. PETALING JAYA : About 10,000 pensioners comprising ex-civil servants and army veterans are expected to converge on Dataran Merdeka on May 31 to protest the government's challenge on a High Court order to revise and backdate their pensions. Rafique Ahmad Nordin, the group's spokesman, said Dang Wangi police recently replied to their notice of the peaceful assembly saying they had taken note of their plans and 'did not state any objection'. However, the organisers were reminded that the police are authorised to take any action they deem fit during the event to ensure the gathering is orderly. 'The police also asked us to ensure the safety and security of participants. We will abide by the law as we merely want it to be a peaceful gathering, to send a message to the government to give us our due as ordered by the court,' he told FMT. Rafique, a retired navy officer, said the protest rally, from 8am to 11.30am, would not cause any problem as it was not a demonstration. On Jan 16, a High Court judge held that pensioners were entitled to revised pensions arising from a 2016 circular, and ordered the government to make payments within three months. However, the government filed a notice of appeal, with the hearing set for Sept 9. In March, the High Court allowed the government to stay the payment of the pension arrears, amounting to RM1.7 billion, to nearly 532,000 pensioners pending the disposal of the appeal. Rafique said pensioners were disappointed that an appeal was filed. He contended that Putrajaya could have easily paid out the arrears.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bersatu deputy info chief Ali Mohamad held by MACC in Melaka bribery probe, remanded six days
MELAKA, April 15 – Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers have reportedly detained Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy information chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad yesterday to assist in a bribery probe. Malaysiakini reported citing his lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali that the former Tangga Batu assemblyman was arrested at 6.30pm during a raid at his home here. 'So far, we were only informed that he was detained under Section 16 of the MACC Act over an alleged bribery case. 'We are yet to get full details on what the allegation is. We are expecting the investigating officer to provide this soon,' Rafique was quoted saying. MACC officers also reportedly questioned Ali's wife and children at their Melaka office, before releasing them around 9pm the same night. Rafique said Ali was brought before a magistrate in Melaka for a remand application this morning. The court then granted a six-day remand order. MACC has yet to release an official statement over the alleged detention. Ali was formerly an Umno member before he was sacked in May last year after jumping ship to Bersatu. He was also formerly the deputy Dewan Negara president between December 2020 and May 2023.
