Saudi police kill two terrorists in Riyadh

Suspects opened fire on police after being surrounded in Yasmeen neighbourhood

Riyadh: Authorities in Saudi Arabia say police have shot and killed two suspected Daesh terrorists in the capital, Riyadh.

The Interior Ministry says the two suspected militants opened fire on Saturday on police after being surrounded in the capital's northern Yasmeen neighbourhood, forcing officers to return fire and kill them. It said one officer was slightly wounded.

The Interior Ministry published photos of explosive suicide vests, rifles and ammunition it said officers found. It also said material found inside the home the two men hid in suggests it was used to manufacture bombs.

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid unveils new megaproject: Dubai Harbour

The harbour will feature the largest marina in the MENA region

Dubai: Local holding company Meraas has been chosen to develop ‘Dubai Harbour’, a 20 million sq. feet megaproject located in the area between Jumeriah Beach Residence and Palm Jumeriah.

The harbor will feature a 1400-berth marina, the largest in the Middle East and North African (Mena) region, as well as a cruise ship port and terminal, a shopping mall covering 3.5 million sq. feet, an events arena, residential buildings, hotels, offices, retail stores, public services, restaurants and cafes and ‘Dubai Lighthouse’.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, unveiled the new waterfront destination Monday, in the presence of the Crown Prince of Dubai Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Group Chairman of Meraas Abdulla Al Habbai.

Shaikh Mohammad said: “We are happy that this new project, which represents a unique and innovative new addition to the region’s tourism landscape, opens up a range of new opportunities to investors. ‘Dubai Harbour’ creates a venue for new investments that support our vision for this important sector and promises to further accelerate the expansion of the tourism industry in the UAE, which is already growing rapidly. I am confident that the project will have a highly positive impact on our entire region’s tourism sector. We are keen to encourage new projects and promote investments that will contribute to bringing to the region more tourists interested in experiencing this part of the world.”

He noted that this project is inspired by the Gulf’s long maritime tradition, which has been inextricably linked to the evolution of trade and commerce in the region.

‘Dubai Harbour’ is anticipated to create new employment opportunities and attract substantial investments. The destination is also expected to have an incremental impact on the value of neighbouring properties.

Meraas will work with various Dubai government entities, in particular the RTA, to deliver an infrastructure that connects ‘Dubai Harbour’ to the surrounding areas and provides multi-mode transport systems within the development.

This will include a bridge that connects the project directly from Shaikh Zayed Road, and a monorail system that will link to the metro from both Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters Island. A pedestrian bridge will also connect ‘Dubai Harbour’ to Palm Jumeirah.

The project will also have three helipads and multiple water stations.

‘Dubai Harbour’ is expected to help Dubai tap in to the vast growth opportunities in the maritime tourism industry, in addition to creating an attractive destination for GCC yacht owners, who possess one third of the world’s largest superyachts.

In 2017, Dubai is expected to receive 650,000 maritime travellers, while 25.3 million passengers are expected to sail around the world, according to a report published recently by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry trade association.

The project will have a fully equipped urban port to welcome global cruise liners and a fully serviced and state-of-the art 150,000 sq. feet passenger terminal, which can accommodate 6000 passengers at one time.

Meraas has commenced discussions with four of the leading global cruise liners.

Standing at 135 metres high, ‘Dubai Lighthouse’ will feature a luxury hotel, an observation deck, and a solid, smooth façade that can be used as a screen for high resolution projections and light shows.

Egypt's government approves deal to hand two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia

Egypt's government has approved a deal to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia

Cairo: Egypt's government has approved a deal to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia and sent it to parliament for ratification, despite a legal dispute over the plan, according to state television.

The deal, announced in April, caused public uproar and rare protests by Egyptians who said the uninhabited islands of Tiran and Sanafir belonged to their country.

The controversy has become a source of tension with Saudi Arabia, which has provided billions of dollars of aid to Egypt but recently halted fuel shipments amid deteriorating relations.

In June, the Higher Administrative Court annulled the agreement, saying Egyptian sovereignty over the islands could not be given up. The Egyptian government lodged an appeal.

Earlier this month, an Egyptian state advisory body recommended the court uphold its original decision, in a report seen by Reuters.

The court is due to issue its final verdict on January 16 and is not obliged to follow the advisory body's report.

The government's latest move shows "the collapse of the state of law and the constitution" in Egypt, said Khaled Ali, a lawyer who filed the June lawsuit to annul the deal.

"The decision that parliament is going to issue is void and the people should defend their land with all legitimate means against this tyrant regime that doesn't respect either law or judiciary," Ali said.

However, Nabil Al Gamal, member of the legislative and constitutional committee in parliament, said there was "absolutely no conflict" in sending the agreement to parliament for ratification before the court's final ruling.

"I expect the parliament not to vote ... on the agreement before the judiciary rules, so that there won't be any conflict between them," said Al Gamal.

Tiran and Sanafir are situated in the narrow entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba leading to Jordan and Israel.

Saudi and Egyptian officials say they belong to Saudi Arabia and were only under Egyptian control because Riyadh asked Cairo in 1950 to protect them.

Lawyers who opposed the handover said Cairo's sovereignty over the islands dated to a 1906 treaty.

Sky-high prices make New Year’s in Dubai a costly night

A humble pancake meal at IHOP in Dubai Mall will set you back Dh1,950

Dubai: It’s no secret that Dubai is a pricey place to spend New Year’s Eve.

So pricey, in fact, that the city has been ranked the most expensive place in the world to ring in the New Year.

A fully-loaded celebration in Dubai will cost Dh2,240 per person — Dh340 more than in New York, the second-most expensive city ranked by global exchange firm Travelex.

At the Dubai Mall — where the annual grand fireworks display by the fountain makes it the centre of the city’s New Year’s festivities — high prices make eyeballs pop like champagne corks.

Watching the fireworks from Tim Horton’s at Dubai Mall will set you back Dh1,500 for an outdoor table, and Dh750 inside..

The prices include a four-course meal, gift hamper, and unlimited drinks and pastries.

Last year, a similar package at the humble Canadian cafe chain — where a cappuccino normally costs just Dh12 — cost Dh1,000 or Dh600, respectively.

At the International House of Pancakes, better known as IHOP, the cost per person stands at Dh1,950 for a set menu. However, drinks are not included in the price, which has risen by Dh150 since last year.

Opposite Tim Hortons, American burger joint Five Guys is selling its best outdoor tables for Dh1,200, and all the burgers, fries and shakes you can eat. This price is unchanged from last year.

For fans of US-style Chinese food, PF Chang’s is offering an outdoor table for Dh7,000, that sits up to four people. The price includes starters, mains, desserts, and unlimited drinks.

Last year, the chain charged Dh1,500 per person — Dh250 less than this year.

At Café Paul, prices on the balcony stand at Dh749 per person for an outdoor table, with starter, salads, mains and a drink included — but you only get one of each.

If you just want to bring your own food and drinks to the mall and stand by the water’s edge, you may be out of luck.

Last year, around six hours before the fireworks began, mall security cordoned off all the routes leading to the fountains due to the size of the crowds.

This meant that only people who had a booking at one of the restaurants and cafes with the fountain-side view of the fireworks could enter.

Police had also closed off the boulevard that runs alongside Dubai Mall by 4pm — so the mall’s staff advise people to come early.

213kg of hashish seized in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Police foil bid to smuggle drug through a land port

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police and Abu Dhabi Customs seized nearly 213 kilograms of hashish and foiled an attempt to smuggle the drug into the country through the border port.

The suspect, an Asian driver, hid the hashish inside the truck and tried smuggling it into the country while crossing through the land port of entry of Abu Dhabi.

Investigations showed that the drugs belonged to hashish dealer A.S.A., an unemployed Gulf national, who was monitored by the Anti-Drug Team in Abu Dhabi Police, and then arrested along with the truck driver.

Major General Maktoum Al Sharifi, director-general of Abu Dhabi Police, hailed the support of Major General Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, in providing all the necessary measures and facilities that enable policemen to perform their tasks and duties, in curbing crimes and enhancing security and safety, and lauded the investigation team’s skills, experience, and efforts in seizing the drug and arresting the smugglers.

Maj Gen Al Sharifi pointed out that Anti-Drug Police in Abu Dhabi Police, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Customs, foiled the attempt to smuggle drugs into the country and helped protect the society from falling victim to such illicit activities.

He added that drug dealers target youth.

Libyan hijackers used fake weapons

Two men were initially thought to have used a real grenade and at least one pistol

Two men used fake weapons Friday to hijack a Libyan plane with 117 people on board and divert it to Malta, before releasing everyone and surrendering, officials said.

The Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 was en route from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli when it was taken over and forced to fly to Malta, sparking a four-hour runway standoff.

While they were initially thought to have used a real grenade and at least one pistol to stage the hijacking, it later emerged that the pair used fake weapons, a Maltese government statement said.

"Initial forensic investigations about the attempted hijack... show that the weapons used were identical replica weapons," the statement said.

"The operation to ensure that the aircraft is safe from explosives or other arms is still ongoing."

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the two men, probably of Libyan nationality, were arrested.

Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Siala from the fledgling national unity government said the two were supporters of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, whose death in 2011 has plunged Libya into chaos.

Siala said they wanted to set up a pro-Gaddafi political party and would ask for political asylum in Malta, although Muscat said they had not done so.

The plane landed at Malta International Airport at 11.34am, with 109 passengers, six crew and the two hijackers on board.

All flights in and out of the island were temporarily shut down while the Maltese military conducted negotiations.

No demands

The plane stood immobile for around an hour on a secondary runway surrounded by military vehicles, before a door opened and a first group of women and children were seen descending from a mobile staircase.

Dozens more passengers followed minutes later.

Muscat said the hijackers were told there would be no negotiations unless all passengers were set free.

After releasing all the passengers and two of the crew members, the hijackers held only the four staff "for a period of time", he said.

Following further negotiations "the hijackers agreed to free the remaining members of the crew and to surrender", he continued, adding that "the hijackers did not make any requests".

Armed Maltese military personnel were later seen storming the plane.

All passengers and crew members would be interrogated before a charter flight takes them back to Libya, Muscat said.

 EARLIER UPDATES

6.48pm: The two hijackers who forced a Libyan passenger plane to divert to Malta have left the plane along with the crew, the Maltese prime minister said.

The hijackers have asked for political asylum in Malta, Libya's foreign minister said.

Taher Siala, the foreign minister of Libya's Government of National Accord, also said that the hijackers have said they want to set up a pro-Gaddafi political party.

 6.03pm: Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said a total of 109 passengers had been released from the hijacked Libyan plane which landed in Malta on Friday.

Muscat said an initial group of 25 women and children released from the plane were quickly followed by nearly all of the 118 people on board the Airbus A320 jet.

 5.47pm: Two hijackers on board the Afriqiyah Airways flight that landed in Malta on Friday are carrying hand grenades but it was not clear what their demands are, a Libyan member of parliament who spoke to a colleague on board the flight said.

Hadi Al Saghir said that a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives had told him that the two hijackers were in their mid 20s and were from the Tebu, an ethnic group present in southern Libya from where the plane departed.

 5.39pm: 65 passengers have so far been released from the hijacked Libyan plane, the Maltese prime minister said, with a further 44 set to be released.

5.01pm: A group of passengers, consisting of women and children, have left the hijacked plane. 

The Maltese prime minister tweeted that 25 passengers have left, and more are disembarking.

 ORIGINAL REPORT

Valletta: An airliner on an internal flight in Libya was hijacked and diverted to Malta where it landed on Friday, Maltese media reported.

Malta state TV said two hijackers with hand grenades were threatening to blow up the Airbus A320, which was flying inside Libya for state-owned airline Afriqiyah Airways with 118 people aboard.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: "Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM".

Some reports said there was only one hijacker.

He told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.

It was unclear what the demands were.

Troops took up positions a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac and no one was seen boarding or leaving it.

The aircraft's engines were still running 45 minutes after it landed late in the morning, the Times of Malta said. Some other flights at Malta International Airport were cancelled or diverted, it said.

A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

Large numbers of security officials could be seen at Mitiga airport after news of the hijacking.

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours.

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta, a European Union member, is about 500km north of Tripoli.

Obaida’s killer was aware of his actions, psychiatrists say

Court-appointed panel says defendant has ‘antisocial personality disorder with alcohol dependence’

Dubai: Nidal Eisa Abdullah, the man on death row for kidnapping, raping and killing eight-year-old Obaida Sedqi on May 20 has “antisocial personality disorder with alcohol dependence”, but was aware of his actions when he committed the crime, a psychiatric evaluation report has revealed.

The panel of psychiatrists tasked by the Dubai Appeal Court to evaluate Jordanian convict Abdullah’s mental health examined him between November 15 and 20. They sought to decide whether Abdullah was aware of his actions when he committed the crime. Abdullah was examined clinically by psychiatrists, according to the report, and the results have shown that Abdullah is a cognitive person and is capable of understanding and realising and has full insight of what he does.

In August, the Dubai Court of First Instance convicted Abdullah and sentenced him to death for kidnapping eight-year-old Jordanian boy Obaida Sedqi from his father’s garage in Sharjah on May 20, before raping and killing him in Al Mamzar.

On Sunday, Abdullah’s court-appointed lawyer Ali Musabbeh Dahi requested presiding judge Eisa Al Sharif to obtain a copy of the examination report and a copy of his client’s criminal records in the UAE.

Dahi told the appellate court that Abdullah’s sanity has to be examined to be able to know whether he suffered any mental illness or instability at the time of the crime.

Speaking to Gulf News on Thursday, Dahi said: “The mental examination results have come out. I have already lodged an official request before the Public Prosecution to review the details. I will be discussing the details of the results during my defence on January 8. I visited the defendant last Thursday at his detention centre and today [December 22] and we had detailed discussions.”

The results of the psychiatric evaluation follow three consecutive hearings before the appellate court that had urged a special panel of psychiatrists at Rashid Hospital to expedite the process of examining Abdullah and providing the court with the report.

Abdullah had missed three consecutive hearings before presiding judge Al Sharif ordered jail wardens to use force and produce him in court. Since then he has not missed a hearing.

Earlier, Dahi told the court: “The defendant had requested the primary court to refer him to a psychiatrists’ committee to examine his sanity after claiming that he suffers a mental illness. The primary court rejected his request. The defence want the accused’s sanity to be examined to be able to know whether he suffered any mental illness or instability at the time the crime happened.”

Abdullah admitted before the appellate court that he killed Obaida, but denied kidnapping and raping him.

According to records, Abdullah kidnapped Obaida on May 20 from his father’s garage in Sharjah and then raped and killed him in Al Mamzar. He admitted before the primary court that he raped and murdered Obaida, but denied kidnapping the victim, who he said willingly sat with him in the car. He also admitted that he drank alcohol and drove under the influence.