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Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom asks US for sanctions on Turkey, Erdogan

A former NBA center is calling on the Biden administration to impose sanctions against Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the Turkish government placed a bounty on his head.
Enes Kanter Freedom, a US citizen and an outspoken critic of the Turkish president, has met with over 125 members of Congress in the two weeks.
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In an interview with Al Arabiya English on Capitol Hill, Kanter Freedom said he was on the Hill to further educate US lawmakers on what he says are human rights violations around the world.
“It is unacceptable that a foreign government can put a bounty on an American citizen’s head on US soil,” he said.
Kanter Freedom has had to bounce around and move several times out of fear for his safety. “This is a real threat to his life,” one congressional aide who met with Kanter Freedom said.
The former NBA player was placed on Turkey’s wanted list this week for allegedly being a member of a terror..

A former NBA center is calling on the Biden administration to impose sanctions against Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the Turkish government placed a bounty on his head.

Enes Kanter Freedom, a US citizen and an outspoken critic of the Turkish president, has met with over 125 members of Congress in the two weeks.

For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

In an interview with Al Arabiya English on Capitol Hill, Kanter Freedom said he was on the Hill to further educate US lawmakers on what he says are human rights violations around the world.

“It is unacceptable that a foreign government can put a bounty on an American citizen’s head on US soil,” he said.

Kanter Freedom has had to bounce around and move several times out of fear for his safety. “This is a real threat to his life,” one congressional aide who met with Kanter Freedom said.

The former NBA player was placed on Turkey’s wanted list this week for allegedly being a member of a terrorist organization. Up to 10 million Turkish liras, close to $500,000, are being offered as a reward to anyone who provides helpful information that leads to his capture.

Ankara is accusing Kanter Freedom of being a member of a group founded by Fethullah Gulen, who currently lives in exile in the US.

Washington has rejected Turkey’s request to extradite Gulen.

He described his conversations with Republican and Democratic lawmakers as “really good” and said members of Congress agreed that the actions of Erdogan’s government were unacceptable.

More than 40 House Republicans signed a letter to US President Joe Biden earlier this week asking for him to look at potential sanctions under the Magnitsky Act, which is meant to crack down on human rights violations and violators.

But Kanter Freedom said he has bipartisan support, and there is agreement from both sides of the aisle on his human rights campaign.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re from the right or the left; you have to care about human rights issues going on anywhere in the world,” he said.

Asked what could be done from a US point of view, Kanter Freedom was explicit in expressing his support for sanctions. “You know, condemning dictators is not going to work. So, we have to take some concrete actions,” he said.

Kanter Freedom pointed to the upcoming Turkish elections slated for May. “We literally have around three months, so that’s why we are coming here and trying to do our best to just bring awareness and see what we can do.”

He is also trying to land a meeting with Biden to explain to him the situation inside Turkey as well as other global human rights issues.

“I’m not the only one on the [wanted] list. There are so many innocent people, journalists, academics, athletes, and celebrities… And now their life is in danger,” Kanter Freedom said.

As Kanter Freedom continues to speak out on these issues, including against China and its detention of over one million Uyghur Muslims, his chances of returning to the NBA weaken.

“They do care about a lot of issues that are happening, but not China,” he said when asked if he was getting support from the NBA or his former colleagues.

He cited the lucrative shoe, jersey and TV contracts inside China. “They are scared to say anything against the Chinese government, but they [NBA players] are learning for sure,” Kanter Freedom said.

At 30 years old, he says he is healthy and can still play for at least another six years in the NBA. But basketball experts he has discussions with say his stance on China is “very unacceptable,” making it nearly impossible to return to the league.

With his parents having their passports taken away by the Turkish government and not having a team to play professional basketball with, Kanter Freedom says he will continue to advocate against “brutal regimes” in China and Turkey.

“We have to do whatever we can to save Turkey because if Erdogan wins the elections, that’s another six years of this whole craziness,” he said.

As the interview was wrapping up, world-renowned comedian Tracy Morgan called Kanter Freedom. The American actor said he just wanted to say hello and give his support to his “good friend.”

Read more: US senator blasts Turkey’s Erdogan, calls for sanctions and no F-16s

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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