In the past week, there has been mounting proof of attempted Iranian interference in US affairs, through cyber-attacks and phishing scams. On Wednesday, Microsoft released a statement confirming that Iranian hackers have targeted 100 high-profile people online. In a separate statement on the same day, US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said that Iran was behind threatening emails sent to Democratic Party-leaning voters meant to “incite social unrest” and “damage President Donald Trump” according to the official.
Iranian cyber-warfare is not a new phenomenon. In 2013, Iran-backed hackers took control of a small dam in the suburbs of New York. A report published last month by the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a bipartisan initiative to preserve American democracy from outside interference, revealed that “Iran is becoming a significant authoritarian actor challenging democracy in the United States and Europe”. Facebook and Twitter have both shut down thousands of fake accounts created with the aim of influencing US public opinion in Tehran’s favour.
This is particularly worrying in the context of the US presidential election, but these operations are not limited to this particular event. And while Tehran does not possess the same expertise and sophistication as Beijing and Moscow, some of its cyber-attacks have been successful.
For instance, Microsoft said that a team of Iranian hackers called the Phosphorus group had tried to scam powerful officials around the world. The hackers posed as conference organisers in a phishing campaign targeting potential attendees of the forthcoming Munich Security Conference and the Think 20 Summit in Saudi Arabia, two events attended by world leaders and senior analysts. Victims were tricked into clicking on a link sent via email, inadvertently downloading a malicious software on their device. “The attacks were successful in compromising several victims, including former ambassadors and other senior policy experts,” said Microsoft in the statement.
Such attacks are evidently illegal and destabilising, yet the Iranian government indulges in cyber-criminality on an international level with little regard to the sovereignty of other nations. Tehran, it appears, is, bent on expanding its arms arsenal, not only by enriching uranium and developing its missile programme, but also by waging cyber-warfare against other countries.
Iran's acts of reprisal have only proven that the nuclear deal was, indeed, flawed
The 2015 nuclear deal, from which the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018, had capped Tehran’s uranium enrichment limit. The situation has escalated between the two countries ever since, as Tehran refused to negotiate a new deal with the US. Instead of proving to the world that it is a rational actor, Iran has resorted to inflammatory rhetoric and used its armed proxies in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq to fan the flames of sectarian violence and launch attacks against the US and its allies.
These acts of reprisal have only proven that the nuclear deal was, indeed, flawed, as it did not take into account Iran’s ballistic missile programme, or its funding of dangerous proxies in the region. It has now become apparent that the agreement also failed to limit the regime’s ability to conduct cyber-warfare, the latest tool in the regime’s playbook for foreign meddling.
Whichever presidential candidate wins this week’s election, they would do well to take strong action against Iran’s complete weapons arsenal, be it ballistic, nuclear or digital in nature.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jebel Ali results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20(2022)
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Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
More on animal trafficking
RACECARD
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
