Iran building collapse death toll rises to 14


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Rescuers are continuing to dig through the debris of a building that collapsed in south-western Iran, killing at least 14 people, with many more feared to be trapped beneath the rubble.

Authorities declared a one-day mourning period on Wednesday, while Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi urged the local authorities to establish what happened.

The 10-storey under-construction Metropol building in Abadan, capital of Khuzestan province, collapsed at about 12:40pm local time on Monday.

Located on the busy Amir Kabir Street, the project featured two towers – one already built and the other under construction. Lower commercial floors had been completed and tenants had already moved in.

On Tuesday, an emergency official told state TV that about 50 people may have been inside the building at the time of the collapse.

It was not made clear whether that figure included those already pulled from the rubble. Officials said earlier that at least 39 people were injured.

State TV, quoting Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, late on Tuesday night, reported that at least 14 people had been killed.

Initially, authorities said the building’s owner and its general contractor were arrested over the incident.

However, a later report from the judiciary’s Mizan news agency on Tuesday showed that the two men were killed in the collapse. Neither report could be confirmed.

An angry crowd at the site chased and beat Abadan city Mayor Hossein Hamidpour after the collapse, the semi-official Ilna news agency reported. Videos online also showed the incident.

Police later arrested Mr Hamidpour and nine others, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.

The authorities offered no immediate comment on whether those detained faced charges and it was not immediately clear if lawyers represented them.

Iran’s vice president in charge of economic affairs, Mohsen Razaei, and Mr Vahidi visited the site.

A parliamentary inquiry was opened on Tuesday to determine why the building collapsed during a sandstorm.

Later on Tuesday, the state-run Irna news agency quoted Faramarz Zoghi, a construction expert and adviser to the industry, as saying that “definitely national construction measures were not observed” at the site.

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SHAITTAN
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe

Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads

Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike

They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users

Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance

They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians

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Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
 

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
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  • Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

What is the Supreme Petroleum Council?

The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.

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Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
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Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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Schedule:

Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

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Transmission: 9-speed auto

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  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

Updated: June 12, 2023, 10:01 AM`