Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has many foes, but his greatest nemesis is not his freshly minted American counterpart Joseph Biden, his country's historic rival and neighbour Greece, or some meddling activist, journalist or opposition politician.
"This thing called social media is currently the worst menace to society," he said in 2013, as the Gezi Park protests raged across Turkey. The next year, he compared social media to "a murderer's knife".
Since the 2016 failed coup, Turkish authorities have all but eliminated independent voices from the media landscape. More than 250,000 websites have been blocked and 200 news outlets have been shuttered, including one that had been in business for less than a month. In the past five years, more than 3,400 journalists have been dismissed and 430 detained, according to a new report.
Social media has emerged as the primary remaining space for dissent, which explains why nearly 60 per cent of Turkish citizens get their news via social media and messaging apps and why such platforms – Twitter, in particular – are the bane of Mr Erdogan’s existence.
“We’ll eradicate Twitter,” the Turkish leader vowed in 2014, as reports of a massive corruption scandal shot around social media. “Everyone will witness the power of the Turkish Republic.”
Mr Erdogan's government has moved to muzzle discussions online almost since he came to power in 2003. Four years later, Turkish parliament passed a law regulating internet publications and an Ankara court blocked YouTube for criminal activity. Repeated blocks against Twitter, Whatsapp, Instagram and Wikipedia have followed.
As of early 2020, Turkish authorities had launched nearly 130,000 probes into insults against the president, most of them in response to social media posts. These investigations led to nearly 10,000 prison sentences, including 3,800 in 2019, an 87 per cent increase from the previous year. Turkey again led the world in Twitter censorship last year, with the most takedown requests, court orders and withheld tweets, according to Twitter’s latest Transparency Report, released earlier this month.
Yet despite all of this, the platforms have remained available in Turkey, enabling a new wave of critics to emerge after every crackdown. Until now.
Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against a purge of thousands of education staff since an attempted coup in July, in front of the main campus of Istanbul University at Beyazit square in 2016. Reuters
Last July, Turkey passed a law requiring social media platforms with more than 1 million users to open an office within the country and be able to respond to Turkish government requests and court orders within 48 hours. Platforms that fail to establish a Turkish presence would face sizable fines followed by further government pressures.
Authorities levied 10m lira ($1.35m) fines against a swathe of platforms in November, spurring LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Google and Dailymotion to follow the Russian site VKontakte in setting up an office in Turkey. A week ago, Facebook announced it would do the same, narrowly avoiding the advertising ban that went into effect the next day against Twitter, its video-streaming app Periscope and the image-sharing platform Pinterest.
Twitter is the most popular of these platforms, the most politically oriented and the one most used by activists and journalists driven out of more traditional channels. Thus, it is now the primary online battleground between the growing authoritarianism of the Turkish government and those who seek to expose its violations.
A fight for free speech online is also being waged in the US, where tech firms have moved to curb right-wing incitement in the wake of the Capitol siege. Within days of the attack, Facebook and Twitter locked then-president Donald Trump's accounts, followed by Snapchat and other platforms. Google, Apple and Amazon then moved to muzzle Parler, the chat app favoured by many of America's extreme right-wing voices. The EU has also begun enacting new policies to curb and control online content, particularly extremist views that could incite violence.
Shadi Ghanim's take on Twitter banning US President Donald Trump
Prominent critics have argued in response that government-backed Big Tech should not be able to control free speech, and indeed these efforts could provide Mr Erdogan with ammunition. Turkey’s leader could argue that if the US and Europe can take steps to stifle anti-democratic or anti-government voices, there should be no reason Turkey cannot do the same. Just as some have described the Capitol assault as a coup attempt, he might add, the Turkish government weathered a violent failed coup of its own and must ensure its own national security.
In fact, since the coup attempt Turkish officials and pro-government media have repeatedly suggested that the US was somehow behind the putsch, or at least supported it. Thus, any whiff of a link to the US puts one in bed with coup plotters and terrorists. The biggest social media platforms are, of course, American firms, and thus beyond the pale.
Earlier this month, after opposition Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu secured a traffic congestion grant from the US Trade and Development Agency, pro-government Sabah newspaper denounced the move with the headline “Istanbul’s data sold to the USA”. It’s all part of a narrative that portrays western governments and tech firms in cahoots to harness the world’s data for nefarious ends.
“The digital age has begun,” Mr Erdogan said last week. “Those who control data can establish their digital dictatorships by disregarding democracy, the law, rights and freedoms.”
Twitter chief Jack Dorsey backed the platform's ban of US President Donald Trump, but said it sets a 'dangerous' precedent. AFP
Turkish internet users have long been ahead of the curve, and may find ways to cope
The legal entities established in Turkey by social media platforms should expect to see a significant number of removal requests and court orders in the days ahead. Should they fail to comply, they are likely to be assessed significant fines and the possible shuttering of their Turkey office, which would leave them on the outside looking in.
That’s where Twitter is today, holding out in the face of a $1.17m fine, with more on the way, as well as the ad ban. If it continues to refuse to open a Turkey office, its bandwidth in Turkey will be reduced by 50 per cent in April, then by 95 per cent in May, essentially rendering its platform useless.
In a statement last week, Milena Buyum, Turkey Campaigner for rights watchdog Amnesty International, said the platforms that have complied with Turkey’s new regulations are “in serious danger of becoming an instrument of state censorship”.
The choice, then, is between accepting the Turkish government’s position and bowing to pressure to curtail free speech, or being forced out of Turkey, taking from Turks a crucial outlet for freedom of expression.
Turkey has become notorious in recent years for temporarily blocking access to popular sites, including Facebook and Twitter, in the wake of major events such as mass protests or terror attacks. Gary Cameron / Reuters
Turkish internet users have long been ahead of the curve, and may find ways to cope. They established one of the world’s first online dictionaries in 1999, a year and a half before Wikipedia. Today, Eksi Sozluk, as it is called, has over 2.8 million Twitter followers. They are known for finding ways around censorship, such as opening a new social media account, slightly tweaking the website URL or turning to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which disguise location and enable access to blocked platforms or websites.
But Turkish authorities have cracked down on VPNs, many of which are no longer accessible from Turkey, and now they are taking away social media, one by one. Will Twitter cave, like the others?
If it does, Mr Erdogan will have eliminated the primary remaining sanctuary for government critics, an invaluable achievement as he faces sagging support amid economic hardship. If Twitter holds its ground, the moment of truth will come in a few months, when the Turkish government will seek to squeeze the life out of its leader’s most troublesome foe.
David Lepeska is a Turkish and Eastern Mediterranean affairs columnist for The National
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
Submit their request
What are the regulations?
Fly it within visual line of sight
Never over populated areas
Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
Should have a live feed of the drone flight
Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
THE SPECS
Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury
Engine: 3.6L V-6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 367Nm
Price: Dh280,000
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
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
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Key findings of Jenkins report
Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Pakistan - Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Rumman Raees.
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014) Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015) Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015) Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016) Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016) Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016) Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016) Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18) Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.
