A railway link between Iraq and Iran is set to be completed in early 2025, a senior government adviser on transportation said on Tuesday.
Early in September, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani laid the foundation stone of the first rail line with Iran. The 30km line connects the Iranian border town of Shalamcheh with the southeastern Iraqi city of Basra.
Mr Al Sudani said the railway was planned to enable the transport of passengers between the two neighbouring countries, mainly devout Shiite pilgrims.
However, critics say the project will help Iran connect to the Mediterranean through Syria and will be used to transport goods from its ports that will ultimately kill Iraq’s hopes to link Asia and Europe through the Al Faw port on the Arabian Gulf.
"We should see the trains moving in about 18 months because it's a small distance," Nasser Al Asadi, transport adviser to the Iraqi PM, told Reuters.
Work is under way to clear the area before ground work could begin on the rail link, Mr Al Asadi said.
Iraq and Iran fought a devastating eight-year war in the 1980s, during which much of the border area was heavily mined.
Since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein, relations between the two nations have deepened, after which pro-Tehran Shiite Muslim parties enhanced their influence in Baghdad.
Baghdad and Tehran first discussed this project after the invasion. In 2014, they signed an agreement to start the construction, but were forced to halt the project as ISIS overran large areas in northern and western Iraq.
Millions of Shiite pilgrims visit Iraq
The Iraqi government is also planning a metro link between the Shiite cities Karbala and Najaf, home to revered Shiite shrines and the seat of Iraqi Shiite clergy.
Millions of Shiite pilgrims mainly from Iran visit Iraq around the year to commemorate major religious events for the sect.
During late August and early September, around 22 million pilgrims entered the city of Karbala to observe a major religious event known as Arbaeen. At least three million of them were Iranians.
Many pilgrims walk hundreds of kilometres from the Iran-Iraq border to Karbala, or drive there in overcrowded cars and buses. Deadly accidents have been frequent.
Dozens of them, mainly Iranians, have died this year in car accidents, while border authorities have struggled to cope with the number of visitors.
Mr Al Asadi said the rail link would reduce the risk of such accidents and allow Iraq to benefit financially from ticket sales.
The projects are part of a major transport-sector development planned by the government, including an overhaul of Baghdad's international airport and a 1,200km rail, road and services project from a major commodities port in the south to its border with Turkey.
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Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mountain%20Boy
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
'Midnights'
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Read more from Aya Iskandarani
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Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) US$175,000 1,000m
7.05pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (Dirt) $100,000 1,900m
7.40pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,800m
8.15pm: Handicap (D) $135,000 2,000m
8.50pm: Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,400m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) $135,000 2,410m.
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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
