Abu Dhabi // The GCC has condemned a bill passed unanimously by the United States congress last week that would allow families of the victims of the September 11 terror attacks to sue the government of Saudi Arabia in US courts.
Such legislation undermines international relations and could affect counterterrorism cooperation between Washington and its Gulf allies, the GCC secretary general Abdullatif Al Zayani said.
The bill, which president Barack Obama strongly opposes, is “contrary to the foundations and principles of relations between states and the principle of sovereign immunity enjoyed by states,” Mr Al Zayani said.
“Such laws will negatively affect the international efforts and international cooperation to combat terrorism,” he said.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also criticised the bill the state news agency Wam reported.
“This law is not equal with the foundations and principles of relations among states, and represents a clear violation given its negative repercussions and dangerous precedents,” Sheikh Abdullah said.
Sheikh Abdullah said the law would “negatively affect international efforts and cooperation to combat terrorism”, and that the UAE was looking forward to congress reviewing the law and not ratifying it.
The US senate voted unanimously in support of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act in May. The house followed suit on Friday, passing the bill unanimously by voice vote. The White House has said that Mr Obama would veto the bill.
“It’s not hard to imagine other countries using this law as an excuse to haul US diplomats or US service members or even US companies into courts all around the world,” Mr Obama’s spokesman said yesterday. “I do anticipate the president would veto this legislation.”
The approval from the usually gridlocked US legislature came despite warnings from his administration that the law would end the principle of sovereign immunity for states in domestic courts and put Americans at risk when they travel abroad. Under current US law dating back to 1976, only countries officially designated as supporters of terrorism, such as Iran, can be sued. Mr Obama’s administration and senior members of both parties have also warned that crucial counterterrorism cooperation with Saudi Arabia could be undermined.
Fifteen of the 19 September 11 plane hijackers were Saudis, and a 2002 congressional investigation that was partly declassified earlier this year by the White House showed that there were suspicious, but unverified, links between low-level Saudi officials in the US and some of the terrorists.
Long-standing lawsuits filed by some victims’ families have been blocked by the current sovereign immunity law, but pressure has been growing in Washington during the current election campaign cycle for the law to be changed to allow the lawsuits to go forward.
If Mr Obama does veto the law, the vote to override is not likely until after the November elections. A veto requires two-thirds support in both houses of congress, and would be the first of Mr Obama’s presidency.
The 9/11 Commission report published in 2004 found that the Saudi state played no role in the terrorist attack.
It is unclear what the effect on the already strained US-Saudi relationship would be if the bill became law, but Saudi officials have reportedly warned that they would liquidate their US assets to shield them from legal action.
tkhan@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Company%20profile
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'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
SPECS
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The%20specs
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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.
Company%20Profile
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Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Klipit%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venkat%20Reddy%2C%20Mohammed%20Al%20Bulooki%2C%20Bilal%20Merchant%2C%20Asif%20Ahmed%2C%20Ovais%20Merchant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Digital%20receipts%2C%20finance%2C%20blockchain%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Privately%2Fself-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)