Israel claims Mohammed Sinwar's body found in Gaza tunnel
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Khaleej Times
26 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Two men sentenced to jail, financial restrictions for drug use
Two Asian men were sentenced to three months in prison and ordered to be deported after serving their jail terms for using drugs at a workers' accommodation in the city, a Dubai court has ruled. The Dubai Misdemeanours and Violations Court also imposed additional restrictions on the defendants. They have been barred from transferring or depositing any money—either personally or through third parties—without prior approval from the UAE Central Bank, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior. The financial restrictions will remain in place for two years after they complete their sentence. The case dates back to January this year, when a supervisor at a workers' residence alerted Dubai Police after spotting the defendants in an abnormal state and allegedly consuming drugs. Officers immediately responded to the report and found the two men in possession of a cigarette containing a suspected narcotic substance. According to police testimony, both suspects were detained, and samples were collected for testing. The results confirmed that the substance was a dried herb classified as a controlled narcotic and that both men had consumed drugs. During interrogations, the first defendant admitted that the cigarette belonged to the second defendant. The latter told investigators that a third colleague, who was arrested and tried separately, had delivered the drugs in exchange for Dh10. He added that the drugs were handed over by an African man. The court found both men guilty of drug use and imposed the sentence accordingly.
Middle East Eye
8 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Why are people protesting against the Boston Consulting Group?
In San Francisco, Boston, Dallas and other cities around the country, protesters have marched and chanted outside the offices of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The demonstrators were demanding accountability for BCG's role in creating a deadly new aid distribution system backed by the US and Israel that a United Nations official described as using starvation as a bargaining chip. Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, BCG is one of the most prominent consulting firms in the United States and advises clients on a large number of topics, including security and humanitarian issues. BCG is one of the world's three largest management consulting firms by revenue and is no stranger to controversy. It has been reported to have worked with Isabel dos Santos, who was accused of exploiting Angola's natural resources. It is also reported to have been one of the firm's "critical" in helping Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman consolidate his grip on power in the kingdom. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Middle East Eye examines the BCG's role in Gaza's humanitarian crisis and efforts to hold the consulting firm accountable. Collaboration with Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Between October 2024 and May 2025, BCG helped establish the controversial US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The GHF began to invite increased scrutiny in early June as evidence of massacres at GHF aid sites emerged, prompting BCG to cancel its contracts with GHF and describe their previous cooperation as 'unapproved'. 'Two former partners initiated this work, even though the lead partner was categorically told not to. This work was not a BCG project. It was orchestrated and run secretly outside any BCG scope or approvals. We fully disavow this work. BCG was not paid for any of this work,' BCG wrote on their website. But a Financial Times (FT) investigation revealed that BCG's cooperation with the GHF was extensive and discussed with senior BCG figures, while the Washington Post's reporting showed that BCG was filing monthly invoices of over $1m a month. The FT investigation found that BCG was originally contacted by Orbis, an American security company working on behalf of an Israeli think tank, to do a feasibility study for a new Gaza aid operation. Senior partners at BCG 'step down over Gaza humanitarian controversy' Read More » BCG then helped create Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), a mercenary firm that would provide security at aid sites, along with GHF. At one point, SRS reportedly chastised a contractor under its command for refusing to shoot Palestinian children. GHF's executive director resigned hours before GHF's public launch in May, claiming it was impossible to implement GHF's Gaza aid plan 'while also strictly adhering to humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence'. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher also criticised the GHF, describing it as 'a fig leaf for further violence and displacement'. BCG planned to bill GHF around $4m for work that included developing financial models of what the UN described as 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza. The model included 'voluntary relocation', where Palestinians in Gaza would have been given $5,000, rent subsidies for four years and subsidised food for a year. The model predicted that a quarter of the population would leave, and three-fourths of them would never return, according to FT. As Israeli air strikes indiscriminately kill Palestinians and children starve to death under Israel's suffocating siege, such an offer could hardly be considered voluntary and was widely condemned by rights groups. Why is the GHF controversial? Set up to bypass UN aid distribution networks that have been in place for decades, but that Israel alleges are now linked to Hamas, GHF sites have proven deadly for Palestinians seeking aid. Israeli soldiers have admitted to deliberately killing unarmed Palestinian aid seekers at GHF distribution sites, with one Israeli soldier describing the aid centres as 'killing fields'. Over a thousand Palestinian aid-seekers have been killed, mostly at GHF sites, since May, according to the UN. Yet as malnutrition spreads across Gaza, hungry Palestinians have little choice but to brave Israeli bullets to search for aid. Israel alleges that violence at the aid sites is necessary to stop the aid from being stolen by Hamas. However, an internal US review examined 156 instances of stolen or lost aid and found no evidence that Hamas was stealing it. Rather, Israel directly or indirectly caused the loss or theft of aid in 44 instances, according to the findings. Meanwhile, Israel has admitted that it supports anti-Hamas gangs notorious for stealing aid. How other aid organisations reacted to BCG On 13 June, Save the Children International became the first charity to pause cooperation with BCG over its role in the GHF. Save the Children CEO Inger Ashing said BCG's modelling of a plan for the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza 'disregards fundamental rights and dignity, and raises serious ethical and legal questions' - and that Save the Children would suspend work with BCG pending the outcome of an external investigation. Several days later, BCG's chief risk officer and the leader of its social-impact practice resigned from their roles. Yet despite the international outcry against GHF, some humanitarian aid organisations have been hesitant to cut ties with GHF. Although the World Food Programme told The New Humanitarian that it planned to review its ties with BCG, other humanitarian aid organisations, including some that decried the GHF, did not indicate that they were considering ending their relationship with BCG. What protests have there been against BCG? Some protesters have found BCG, with dozens of locations across the US, an accessible target to protest against the killing of aid seekers in Gaza. On 25 July, demonstrators banged pots and pans outside BCG's headquarters in the Seaport district of Boston. GHF chief attacks UN and media, avoids saying 'Palestinians' when referring to Gaza Read More » A security guard at the building seriously injured one protester when he pushed the protester into a metal pole, breaking several ribs. 'Very quickly, a security guard ran from within the building without me noticing him, and slammed into me and pushed me away from the door with all his strength,' the protester, who asked to remain anonymous, told Middle East Eye. Multiple witnesses corroborated the account, and the protester was later taken by ambulance to a hospital with a trauma centre. On 25 July, at least a dozen protesters were arrested when demonstrators staged a sit-in at a BCG facility in Dallas. Protesters also demonstrated outside a BCG office in Dallas on Thursday. On the west coast of the United States, the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) organised protests outside of BCG's offices in San Francisco and San Diego. 'The time to act is now! The genocide in Gaza had reached a critical moment with thousands facing starvation due to the brutal siege on the strip… we will make ourselves heard,' a statement from the San Diego chapter of PYM said.
Khaleej Times
13 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE authorities warn residents against online fraud, phishing attempts via phone
UAE residents are urged to exercise caution when dealing with phone messages or calls from unknown sources, as per a new note issued by the country's Cybersecurity Council and Abu Dhabi Police on Friday. Authorities called on the public to be mindful when receiving these calls or messages that can be gateways to phishing attempts or online fraud, which has become one of the growing challenges facing the community. "This is particularly evident with the diversity of its forms, the sophistication of its methods, the evolution of digital tools... Online fraud is no longer limited to traditional methods, but now exploits digital services, smart applications, and online networks to lure victims in ways that are often difficult to detect until after the crime has been committed," the UAE Cybersecurity Council said in a statement. Last month, a Khaleej Times investigation uncovered an online trading syndicate in the UAE operating a high-stakes scam through fraudulent call centres, fake trading platforms, and shell companies set up to siphon investor funds. For its part, Abu Dhabi Police warned the public against online fraud attempts, highlighting some methods of deception, including fake advertisements appearing in search engines, fraudulent job offers, and real estate scams. They stressed the importance of using approved applications when making purchases or requesting services. Recommendations Authorities shared tips, saying the public was urged to: Verify the authenticity of electronic links Avoid sharing banking or personal information with untrusted parties Rely only on official applications approved by government entities or available on trusted app stores such as the App Store and Google Play Do not share confidential information with anyone, whether related to bank accounts, cards, online banking passwords, ATM PINs, or the security code (CCV), or other sensitive details. Avoid clicking direct links sent via personal messages Refuse to install programmes under false pretences Never share two-factor authentication codes Review app permissions before installation Deny unnecessary access, such as to messages or administrative settings Continuously update operating systems to fix security gaps, and using certified antivirus software. Apart from these precautionary measures, UAE residents are advised to immediately report any fraud attempts through the Aman Service or via the contact centre at 8002626, SMS at 2828, the Abu Dhabi Police smart app, the email aman@ or the 'Police at Your Phone' service.
