No mercy for this vile trade in human misery



Lured to the UAE with the promise of a high-salaried job, she was put under lock and key when she arrived, beaten for 10 days and then forced to sell her body. She joined 17 others who were forced into prostitution by the same captors, their passports kept from them and forced to pay back the spurious costs of their enslavement. As we report today, Abu Dhabi's Criminal Court imposed sentences of life imprisonment on the seven men who operated the human trafficking ring, the largest such gang in the country, that forced these 18 women into prostitution. Yesterday's decision was criticised as "too harsh" by defence lawyers. They are wrong. Rather, it was the strongest sign yet of the Government's commitment to eliminating the scourge of sex slavery.
The Government adopted an Anti-Human Trafficking Law in 2006, committing itself to the prosecution of sex traffickers to the fullest extent of the law. Still, tackling a problem requires more than legislation. To its credit, the Government has employed increasing numbers of law enforcement officers, and trained them on anti-trafficking methods and how such crimes should be prosecuted. While this particular ring was exposed by a woman who had escaped her captors and alerted the authorities herself, the new policing efforts are beginning to bear fruit. Last year 36 trafficking cases were brought before the courts, up from 20 in 2008. The establishment of a shelter for abused women who have escaped their captors has also served a much needed purpose.
Yesterday's sentence also addresses a claim made by the US State Department in a 2008 report that "government authorities continue to interpret the anti-trafficking law to exclude some who have been forced into commercial sexual exploitation". Clearly, this was not the interpretation of the law that was applied in court yesterday. The syndicate sent to prison yesterday is probably not the only one of its kind in the capital or the country. Much more work remains to be done. While sex trafficking is an awful fact of life in much of the world, that does not make it inevitable here; indeed, in a nation that has made such great strides in its development and protection of human rights, it should not be. The existence of sex trafficking is a stain on the rest of what the country has achieved.
Yesterday's verdict is a victory not only for 18 women who faced unspeakable violence and humiliation. It is a victory for a nation that has made its position clear: those who exploit the openness of this country to enslave and abuse women will find no refuge here.

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20PRO%20(12.9%22%2C%202022)
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Results
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50

Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm

Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km

Price: From Dh796,600

On sale: now

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

Company%20profile
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