DUBAI // Long-term regional support will be key to the success of a new anti-piracy centre in the Seychelles that aims to track down the kingpins behind the hijackings.
The UAE has already shown its support for the Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecution and Intelligence Coordination Centre that opened in the Seychelles last week.
"We see the UAE as critical in the development of the centre because it has been influential and forthcoming on sharing information that it believes is vital," said Dick Esparon, the Seychelles ambassador. "Piracy is a scourge and we must track not only the people who go out to sea to commit piracy but also the people behind the scenes.
"We must use technology to trace everything that feeds off the proceeds of piracy."
The work of the centre will support the continuing naval pursuit of pirates in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
"Piracy is a transnational crime and we have to act in a unified manner," Mr Esparon said. "Therefore, it's important for the UAE and for the Middle East because each country on its own cannot tackle the problem. A coordinated approach is required to tackle the crime, chase and hunt these financiers and bring them to justice.
The UK-funded anti-piracy centre, which opened on February 25, is one of several measures initiated to protect the Seychelles, a small island nation vulnerable to attacks because it is nearSomalia.
Tourism and fishing have both been hit by piracy but the country is fighting back with aid from the international community and is no longer an easy target.
Over the past few years, the UAE has provided the Seychelles with a coast guard headquarters, radar stations, patrol boats and surveillance aircraft. There are now about 100 Somali pirates facing jail terms in the Seychelles and helping provide information about piracy gangs.
Since 2010, Somali pirates facing local resistance have increased their range of operations to attacking ships 2,000 kilometres from their coastline.
Shipping vessels and oil tankers leaving the Arabian Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz are now prime targets for pirates since about a fifth of the world's oil exports pass through the strait and the Indian Ocean.
"Piracy has become a major concern for the Arabian Gulf post-2010. Now the UAE has a more critical role to play," said Tim Stear, the director of maritime security at Control Risks, a crisis management company.
"While before it was outside its area as it only affected the Somali coastline and the Gulf of Aden, now any port of the Arabian Gulf is potentially a target."
Experts say collating intelligence is part of the UAE's commitment to counter regional threats.
"One of the fundamental aims is to gather information on pirate gangs and then look at targeting the beneficiaries from the crime," Mr Stear said. "If the piracy network, financing and the proceeds of the crime are not targeted then piracy will continue."
A combination of naval patrols and armed guards on merchant vessels has helped curtail piracy attacks from 176 in 2011 to 35 until October last year, according to International Maritime Bureau statistics.
The new Seychelles centre aims to seize this advantage and focus on tracking the people who organise and fund piracy, through cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
"The UAE's effort is aimed to bring Somalia back to the family of nations," said Theodore Karasik, research and development director at Inegma security consultancy.
"Collecting intelligence, disseminating findings to mitigate and disrupt the financial flows of piracy - this is the major objective of fighting the scourge. The UAE policy regarding piracy off the cost of Somalia is multifaceted with intelligence sharing and lessons learnt on how to best establish public and private interaction."
rtalwar@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The%20specs
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Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
More on animal trafficking
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
'O'
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Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
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THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
PFA Premier League team of 2018-19
Allison (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The specs
BMW M8 Competition Coupe
Engine 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
Power 625hp at 6,000rpm
Torque 750Nm from 1,800-5,800rpm
Gearbox Eight-speed paddleshift auto
Acceleration 0-100kph in 3.2 sec
Top speed 305kph
Fuel economy, combined 10.6L / 100km
Price from Dh700,000 (estimate)
On sale Jan/Feb 2020