Iran's choice: Chicken or Uranium



An anecdotal report titled Chickens facing censorship in Iran published in British newspaper TheTelegraph earlier this week commented on the Iranian police chief's call last week for broadcasters to censor images of chicken dinners since they could provoke the underprivileged classes to attack the rich amid rising costs of living in the country.

"This isn't the first report to mock the Iranian government's attempts to direct the media to avoid exposing the economic strains caused by inflation and the effects of the international economic sanctions," said Ali Ibrahim, a contributor in the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al Awsat.

Only a week earlier, the Iranian Minister for Culture advised the media against focusing on the harsh economic day-to-day realities arising from the western-imposed embargo.

Before that, the television authority in Iran had conducted a survey about people's feelings towards enriching uranium, but it was later withdrawn since it showed that the majority of surveyed subjects supported halting the enrichment to avoid sanctions.

The authorities claimed the survey website was hacked and its results tampered with.

The paradox, however, is that these reports about the hardships that affect simple aspects of people's daily lives coincide with announced tests on new types of missiles and information about breakthroughs in nuclear development, alongside threats to close down the Strait of Hormuz. All that is added to increasing external expansion schemes, with added financial burdens that go to serve Iran's external power network.

"Big talk that is supposed to give people the feeling of grandeur and great capabilities juxtaposed with a completely different reality where hardships are on the rise as a result of these policies," observed the writer.

The Iranian case is recurrent among average-sized countries in the Middle East. It is the case of countries where dreams of a bigger external role end up depleting internal capabilities and resources.

A nation can't be blamed for seeking international prominence, but glory comes at a hefty price and the applause of supporters outside the country can't put chicken on the dinner table.

Present indications from Iran reveal that the economic sanctions, mainly the embargo on oil, the primary source of state revenues, are beginning to weigh heavily on the economy.

Nonetheless, the sanctions are recent and they aren't the main factor in the economic downturn, contrary to the exorbitant costs of armament programmes and the enormous budget allocated for Iran's external role or for the support of allied regimes.

There is the source of the economic exhaustion that would surely provoke overwhelming internal outrage, the writer noted.

Russia on Saudi: pot calls the kettle black

For Russia to choose to become the guardian of gravediggers in Syria is madness that some might justify as opportunism. But for Russia to appoint itself as the custodian of human rights in the world, is blatant idiocy, opined columnist Rajeh Al Khouri in the Lebanese daily Annahar.

The Russian Foreign Ministry's commissioner for human rights, Konstantin Dolgov last week expressed "great concerns" over the clash between Saudi police and Shiite protesters in the Qatif district that left two dead.

"This was clearly a Russian attempt to jab Saudi for supporting the opposition in Syria while Moscow continues to champion the Assad regime," said the writer.

But, does this mean that Russia's support for the Damascus regime is unshakable to the point where it is prepared to jeopardise its relations with the Arab and Islamic country? Has it learnt nothing from its grave mistake in supporting the Qaddafi regime in Libya to the last minute?

Riyadh was justified in responding harshly to Mr Dolgov's statement, qualifying it as an "aggressive act and a blatant interference in the kingdom's affairs".

Justifying his statement, the Russian official said his country closely monitors all human rights violations across the world.

"We don't know why such 'concern' disappears when Russian weapons kill more than 20,000 Syrians or when Moscow slaughters Chechnya's people with napalm," said the writer.

Arafat's death finally back in the spotlight

Arab foreign ministers convened yesterday at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo in response to a request by the Tunisian Government to look into the possible assassination of the late Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat.

The London-based newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi said in its editorial: "We don't understand why it took the League eight years to discuss a case as serious as this one, and to seek the formation of an international committee and a special tribunal to prosecute the culprits."

The Palestinian Authority itself never filed a request to this effect, perhaps out of fear of the Israeli and US reactions, or for lack of any Arab support for such a move.

"President Arafat is a symbol for the Palestinian people's uprising and was one of the most prominent world political figures in the last century. He doesn't deserve such neglect from his own authority and from the Arab League," the paper said.

The late president's family have accused Israel of poisoning him. It is crucial at this point that the accusations are legally proved to unveil the hypocrisy of world powers that pretend to champion justice and human rights while they continue to shield Israel from accountability for its crimes, the paper concluded.

* Digest compiled by the Translation Desk

TCL INFO

Teams:
Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

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'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
AUSTRALIA SQUAD v SOUTH AFRICA

Aaron Finch (capt), Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa

The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

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Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.

Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.

The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

'Gold'

Director:Anthony Hayes

Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes

Rating:3/5

Jigra
Director: Vasan Bala
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Rated: 3.5/5
Squads

India: Kohli (c), Rahul, Shaw, Agarwal, Pujara, Rahane, Vihari, Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Shami, Umesh, Siraj, Thakur

West Indies: Holder (c), Ambris, Bishoo, Brathwaite, Chase, Dowrich (wk), Gabriel, Hamilton, Hetmyer, Hope, Lewis, Paul, Powell, Roach, Warrican, Joseph

'Joker'

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix

Rating: Five out of five stars

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

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The Farewell

Director: Lulu Wang

Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma

Four stars

BORDERLANDS

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis

Director: Eli Roth

Rating: 0/5

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Company%20Profile
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Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

THE SPECS

Jaguar F-Pace SVR

Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8​​​​​​​

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 542bhp​​​​​​​

Torque: 680Nm​​​​​​​

Price: Dh465,071

Results

1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)

2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly

4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

On sale: now 

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29 – Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30 - UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1 - UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2 – Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4 - Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6 – Final