DUBAI: A police officer in the United Arab Emirates has appeared in court over filming himself holding Barcelona star Lionel Messi’s passport.
Abu Dhabi’s state-run The National newspaper reported on Tuesday that the police officer appeared in Dubai’s Court of Misdemeanors over the posting the video to the mobile phone app Snapchat in December.
The newspaper said the video included the caption: “Shall I burn the passport or just put it back!“
The police officer, identified as J.M., faces a charge of violating Messi’s privacy. He said he made the video in jest and had the permission of Messi’s bodyguard.
The forward was in Dubai to receive the Player of the Year award at the Globe Soccer Awards. Messi also is a global ambassador for the coming Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Separately, prosecutors in the country have filed an arrest warrant for two men who wore military uniforms and danced in an Internet video.
The state-run WAM news agency announced Tuesday that Abu Dhabi prosecutors had filed the warrant for the men.
It described the video as showing “two men donning military uniforms and making outrageous physical movements that did not respect the uniform, the morale and the value of national service.”
Emirati cop in court for filming Messi’s passport
Emirati cop in court for filming Messi’s passport
Morocco’s energy ministry puts gas pipeline project on hold
- The country’s natural gas demand is expected to rise to 8 billion cubic meters in 2027 from around 1 bcm currently, according to ministry estimates
RABAT: Morocco’s energy ministry said on Monday it has paused a tender launched last month for a gas pipeline project, without giving details on the reasons for the suspension.
The tender sought bids to build a pipeline linking a future gas terminal at the Nador West Med port on the Mediterranean to an existing pipeline that allows Morocco to import LNG through Spanish terminals and supply two power plants.
It also covered a section that would connect the existing pipeline to industrial zones on the Atlantic in Mohammedia and Kenitra.
“Due to new parameters and assumptions related to this project... the ministry of energy transition and sustainable development is postponing the receipt of applications and the opening of bids received as of today,” the ministry said in a statement.
Morocco is looking to expand its use of natural gas to diversify away from coal as it also accelerates its renewable energy plan, which aims for renewables to account for 52 percent of installed capacity by 2030, up from 45 percent now.
The country’s natural gas demand is expected to rise to 8 billion cubic meters in 2027 from around 1 bcm currently, according to ministry estimates.
