UPDATE: Ex-manager's aide held over shooting of Turkish singer Ibrahim Tatlises
ISTANBUL // Ibrahim Tatlises, a Turkish singer of Kurdish descent who has millions of fans in Turkey and around the Middle East, was in critical condition in an Istanbul hospital yesterday after being shot in the head by unknown assailants.
Tatlises, 59, was shot as he left a television studio after completing his regular show there around midnight on Sunday. Buket Cakici, an assistant of the singer, was also hurt when at least two people opened fire with automatic weapons and then sped away in a black car.
Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the governor of Istanbul, told reporters in the city yesterday that 11 shots were fired during the attack. Two bullets hit Tatlises and another two hit his assistant. "What is certain is that at least two people carried out the attack," Mr Mutlu said.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, called the hospital for information on his medical condition and ordered authorities "to do everything necessary" to find the gunmen, the Hurriyet newspaper reported on its website. Recep Akdag, the health minister, issued a statement describing Tatlises' condition as "critical".
Few artists in Turkey have reached the superstar reputation enjoyed by Tatlises. "He has been very successful as a musician," Songul Karahasanoglu, a musicologist specialising in popular music at Istanbul's Technical University, said yesterday. "He is also a phenomenon in the Arab world."
In Istanbul, scores of Turkish artists and fans flocked to the hospital in Maslak, a quarter on the European side of the Turkish metropolis, where Tatlises was being kept in an induced coma after several hours of brain surgery. News reports quoted people close to the singer as saying that Tatlises was likely to remain paralysed in the left side of his body if he survived his injuries. The singer is divorced and has four children by three different women.
Born in the south-eastern province of Urfa in Turkey's Kurdish region in 1952, Tatlises shot to fame in the 1970s with sentimental songs about loneliness, unrequited love and homesickness. In the course of his career, he gained many fans beyond Turkey's borders in Middle Eastern countries, and he was also popular with the more than two million Turks in Germany.
His career has made him wealthy. He owns restaurants and hotels and recently invested in a construction project in the city of Erbil, the capital of Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdistan region.
Persistent reports in the Turkish media linking Tatlises to the Turkish Mafia have been fuelled by the fact that prosecutors questioned him in connection with investigations concerning several organised crime groups, and there were at least two attempts to shoot him in the past. He was injured in one shooting in 1990 and escaped unharmed in the other, in 1998.
"Tatlises was the first one who carried the music and the lifestyle of the south-east to Istanbul," Prof Karahasanoglu said, adding that in the course of the singer's career, his business interests seem to have taken priority over the musical side. Many people in Turkey knew that Tatlises, whose name translates to "sweet voice", was reported to have ties to criminals, but loved him anyway because of his music, she said. The professor added Tatlises was not unlike Frank Sinatra in that respect, because the American singer also combined musical stardom with reported links to organised crime.
There was intense media speculation about who may have been behind the attack on Tatlises. Some news reports said Kurdish rebels may have been responsible, but there was no indication as to why the rebels would target Tatlises, and there was no official statement and no reaction from the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, a rebel group fighting for Kurdish self-rule since 1984.
Izzet Yildizhan, a singer and a friend of Tatlises, told the CNN-Turk news channel he suspected that Tatlises' business interests in Iraqi Kurdistan, where the singer has been involved in a housing project with Iraqi partners, were behind the attack. "All signs are pointing in that direction," he said.
"It is clear that he had problems in northern Iraq, but he did not expect such a thing. He did not take it seriously, all he expected was a minor dispute," Yildizhan said.
But Duzgun Beyaz, the business partner of Tatlises in Erbil, denied that the shooting may have been triggered by problems in Iraq. "There have been some minor problems, but not on the scale of an incident like this," Mr Beyaz told Turkish media. He gave no details about the nature of the problems, but said Tatlises had been planning a trip to Erbil in the coming days.
Fans of the singer, who is called "Ibo" by his many admirers, reacted with dismay and anger to the shooting. "Ever since I heard it, I am in shock," Ferhat Betul Simsek, a member of the singer's fan group on Facebook, wrote in a message. "This must not end this way. Our prayers are with you."
Other fans called on the perpetrators to be found and punished. "May the hands of those who shot you be broken," wrote Mehemet Usta, another member of the fan group on Facebook. "Urfa is weeping blood," he added in reference to the singer's home region.
tseibert@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
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%20PROFILE
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The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Results
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: RB Kings Bay, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: AF Ensito, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: AF Sourouh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
8.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Baaher, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
9pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Mootahady, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
9.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Dubai Canal, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Al Ain Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Harrab, Bernardo Pinheiro, Majed Al Jahouri
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
