CAIRO // The younger son of the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, has said he has "no personal ambition" to succeed his father at the helm of the country, newspapers reported yesterday.
"Despite what people think, I have no personal ambition," Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper quoted Gamal Mubarak as telling an Egyptian television interviewer who asked him about his personal political plans.
"Gamal Mubarak: I have no personal ambition," said a front-page banner in the government's flagship Al-Ahram newspaper.
Egypt is set to hold a legislative election later this month ahead of presidential polls expected to take place next year.
The 82-year-old Mubarak is yet to say whether he will run for a sixth term in office, and is widely believed to be grooming Gamal, the younger of his two sons, for succession.
In the television interview, excerpts of which were published by several papers, Gamal insisted his concerns lie with helping push for reforms through Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).
"I want a role through which I can help the party and the state [prepare] for change. And I want to help the party's candidate implement his programme," he was quoted as saying. "Over the next two years we will be facing important missions ... a huge challenge," he said.
A former investment banker, the 46-year-old heads the NDP's powerful policy committee.
Protests erupted in Egypt earlier this year following rumours that he was being prepared to replace his father. The demonstrations came after posters of Gamal Mubarak were plastered around Cairo by a previously unknown group called the "Popular Campaign to Support Gamal Mubarak".
That was followed by several announcements from groups, also previously unknown, to collect signatures for a petition supporting a bid for the presidency by Gamal.
Their volunteers wear shirts emblazoned with the slogan: "Gamal Mubarak: a new beginning for Egypt".
The NDP denied any involvement in the campaign.
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
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