Iran faced growing international criticism on Tuesday after the death of a woman in the custody of the morality police sparked three days of protests that have left at least three dead.
After officials downplayed and dismissed criticism over the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, last Tuesday, saying it was an “unfortunate incident”, an aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visited her family to offer condolences.
Abdolreza Pourzahabi reportedly spent two hours with Amini’s family and promised an investigation into her death, saying the supreme leader was “pained” by the incident.
The move was seen as an attempt to diffuse tensions after protesters chanted “death to the dictator” and other slogans targeting the country’s top leaders.
Authorities have said Amini fell ill as she waited with other women held by the morality police, who enforce strict rules requiring women to cover their hair and wear loose-fitting clothes in public.
However, the UN’s acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al Nashif called for an investigation, and her office has warned that morality police have expanded their patrols in recent months, targeting women for not properly wearing the hijab. It said verified videos show women being slapped in the face, struck with batons and thrown into police vans for wearing the hijab too loosely.
The US called on Tehran to end its “systemic persecution of women” and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Amini “should be alive today.”
French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that he had brought up the need to protect women’s rights in talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
The backlash grew as world leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly and may overshadow Mr Raisi’s visit as he seeks to focus on finalising the terms of a renewed nuclear accord with world powers.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian accused the US of shedding “crocodile tears” and said human rights were an inherent value and that an investigation would uncover the events of Amini’s death.
However, her father Amjad Amini told Iranian newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad that witnesses saw her being shoved into a police car.
“I asked for access to [videos] from cameras inside the car as well as the courtyard of the police station, but they gave no answer,” he said.
He also accused the police of not transferring her to hospital quickly enough, saying she could have been resuscitated.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
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Range: 400km
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
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Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
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Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
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Power: Combined output 920hp
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
