标签： Asia

A British prisoner with muscular dystrophy has declared he will initiate a thirst strike on Saturday if authorities fail to address his demands for immediate bail and improved detention conditions. Muhammad Umer Khalid, 22, represents the final remaining hunger striker among seven individuals associated with the proscribed organization Palestine Action.

The collective hunger strike originally protested both the group’s official banning and what participants characterize as unjust detention protocols. While three strikers concluded their food refusal campaign in mid-January following the government’s termination of a substantial contract with Elbit Systems’ UK subsidiary, Khalid has resumed and now escalated his protest.

Currently held on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs concerning alleged activist activities at RAF Brize Norton, Khalid asserts that prison authorities have imposed severe restrictions on his communications. Through an intermediary, he reported receiving merely one visit, a single postcard, and two emails over a three-week period, despite friends claiming to have sent numerous correspondences.

Khalid stated: ‘Witnessing the government’s indifference to our deteriorating health demonstrates they place no value on our lives.’ His friend Danyal Osman confirmed these communications restrictions have additionally impeded Khalid’s legal consultations, causing procedural delays.

The Ministry of Justice refuted these allegations, emphasizing that all prisoners adhere to standardized national regulations regarding correspondence. Officials noted that legally privileged communications remain protected under policy, with vetting procedures applied proportionally to terrorism-related cases.

Medical expert James Smith expressed particular concern regarding Khalid’s planned thirst strike, highlighting that ‘deprivation of water precipitates rapid dehydration leading to multi-organ failure.’ Khalid’s muscular dystrophy condition compounds these health risks, as evidenced during his previous 12-day hunger strike which necessitated termination due to severe health deterioration.

The situation carries profound personal dimensions: Khalid previously served as primary caregiver for his mother, Shabana Khalid, who is battling cancer and depression. She described her rapid physical and emotional decline since her son’s imprisonment, noting the practical challenges of traveling from Manchester to London for limited visits.

Despite the grave health implications, supporters emphasize Khalid’s action stems not from suicidal tendencies but from profound commitment to his cause. Osman noted: ‘He loves life—this extremity demonstrates his conviction, not death wishes.’

Meteorological authorities in the United Arab Emirates have confirmed that current cold weather conditions affecting the nation will be transient rather than sustained. According to Mohammed Al Abri, Director of the Meteorology Department at the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), this climatic phenomenon represents a temporary deviation from the region’s typically pleasant winter patterns.

The atmospheric shift has produced notably low temperatures across various Emirates, with Jebel Jais—the country’s highest peak—registering 0.2°C during early morning hours. More surprisingly, Raknah in Al Ain recorded 4°C, demonstrating that cold conditions aren’t exclusive to mountainous regions. Meteorological experts attribute this unusual distribution to specific topographical characteristics; basin-like valleys such as Raknah function as natural refrigeration units by trapping cold, dense air that descends from higher elevations during nocturnal hours.

The primary driver behind this temperature decline is identified as strong north-westerly shamal winds, generated by high-pressure systems over the southern Arabian Gulf creating low-pressure gradients in eastern areas. These atmospheric currents transport cooler air masses across the peninsula, though coastal urban centers including Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman have maintained relatively moderate temperatures between 17°C and 17.3°C due to the moderating influence of humidity.

Al Abri emphasized that while Wednesday’s winds contributed to perceptibly chilly conditions, meteorological models indicate gradual easing beginning Thursday. The NCM recommends that residents maintain standard cold-weather precautions during early morning and evening hours when exposed areas experience rapid temperature declines.

From a broader climatological perspective, UAE winter characteristics demonstrate significant interannual variability influenced by global patterns including El Niño and La Niña phenomena. As Al Abri explained, La Niña phases typically correlate with colder, drier conditions in the region, while El Niño tendencies produce warmer, rainier winters through complex teleconnections between Pacific Ocean temperatures and worldwide weather systems.

This meteorological event, while brief, offers scientists valuable insights into how local topography interacts with global climate patterns to create distinctive weather experiences across the Emirates’ diverse landscapes.

Chinese regulatory authorities have initiated a comprehensive standardization framework for the rapidly expanding pre-made food sector, addressing growing public concerns about food safety and consumer rights. The Food Safety Office of the State Council, in coordination with the National Health Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and other relevant departments, has developed draft regulations that will establish clear terminology, classification systems, and safety protocols for pre-prepared food products.

The newly proposed National Food Safety Standards for Pre-Made Dishes and accompanying Terminology and Classification guidelines aim to create a unified regulatory framework that distinguishes between various types of processed foods. According to the draft definitions, pre-made dishes constitute pre-packaged food items manufactured from one or more edible agricultural ingredients, potentially including seasonings but excluding preservatives. These products undergo industrial preprocessing methods—including mixing, marinating, forming, frying, baking, boiling, or steaming—and may incorporate seasoning packets. Crucially, they require final heating or cooking before consumption and must adhere to specific storage, transportation, and labeling requirements.

Simultaneously, regulatory bodies have drafted guidelines encouraging catering establishments to voluntarily disclose their food preparation methodologies. This transparency initiative seeks to bridge the information gap between consumers and food providers, particularly addressing concerns about restaurants marketing reheated pre-made dishes as freshly prepared offerings.

The regulatory clarification explicitly excludes certain food categories from the pre-made dish classification. Fresh vegetables undergoing simple processing (washing, peeling, cutting), ready-to-eat items such as salads, convenience meals, steamed buns, pastries, hamburgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and central kitchen-prepared dishes distributed to chain outlets fall outside the official definition of pre-made dishes.

This regulatory development responds to mounting public scrutiny surrounding food safety standards within China’s expanding pre-made food market. While large chain restaurants have extensively adopted these products for efficiency, smaller producers sometimes fail to meet safety requirements, and consumers frequently lack clear understanding about the nature of pre-made dishes. The new standards aim to balance operational efficiency with robust consumer protection mechanisms, potentially reshaping the industry’s future through enhanced regulation, increased transparency, and technological innovation.