President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (CNRI) Maryam Radjavi arrives at a conference in Paris for opponents of the Iranian government (AFP / ALAIN JOCARD)
President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (CNRI) Maryam Radjavi arrives at a conference in Paris for opponents of the Iranian government (AFP / ALAIN JOCARD)

Iran’s critics go beyond the Gulf



A year on from the nuclear deal and the consequences of Iran’s reintroduction into the global community are clear across the Middle East. In Yemen, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels still refuse to compromise, make peace or withdraw from the capital Sanaa.

In Iraq, Iran’s hand can still be detected: even as Iraqi forces fought to retake Fallujah from ISIL, Iran’s Quds force commander Qassim Soleimani appeared in photographs on the edge of the battlefield. In Syria, the regime of Bashar Al Assad could not have survived so long without overt Iranian assistance.

Unsurprisingly, the Gulf states are unhappy about this, as the instability that Iran has stoked in the region directly affects them, allowing space for ISIL terrorists to plan attacks, for example the suicide bombings that rocked Saudi Arabia last week, or for the Houthis to acquire weapons that kill Gulf servicemen.

Yet opposition to the current Iranian government goes far beyond the Gulf states, as a gathering in Paris over the weekend showed. Organised by the National Council for Resistance in Iran (NCRI), an exiled opposition group, the event attracted supporters from beyond the region – the former prime minister of Spain, a former French foreign minister and a former New York mayor.

It was a reminder that, beyond the scenes of jubilation inside Iran over the passage of the nuclear deal, there is still significant opposition to the rule of the ayatollahs.

That opposition is both domestic and foreign. Listen to the anti- Iranian slogans chanted by demonstrators outside the Green Zone in Baghdad before it was stormed in May and it is clear that many Iraqis have had enough of Iranian interference.

But it is Iranians themselves who are in the forefront of opposing the regime. Although the Green Movement, the opposition group that flourished after the 2009 Iranian election, has been crushed by Iran’s police and intelligence apparatus, the anger that gave rise to it has not gone away. Yes, Iranians are fiercely proud of their country, and rightly so, but that doesn’t mean they support everything the ayatollahs do.

The links between the Arab world and Iran are deep and long standing and, as Saudi’s former intelligence chief Prince Turki Al Faisal said at the conference, the current tensions are exceptional in a long history of friendship. Those who are angry with the current government in Tehran should find allies among the Arabs.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

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World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
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4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
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Name: HyperSpace
 
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Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Name: ARDH Collective
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
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What is a black hole?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

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4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

The biog

Age: 30

Position: Senior lab superintendent at Emirates Global Aluminium

Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, post graduate degree in light metal reduction technology

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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PREMIER LEAGUE STATS

Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League 
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals

2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25  

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Greatest Royal Rumble results

John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match

Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto

Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus

Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal

Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos

Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe

AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out

The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match

Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last

Company%20Profile
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Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.

Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.

The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.

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.