"Tehran's mass rally highlighted the dual character of Iranians," wrote Satea Nourredine in an opinion piece for the Lebanese daily Assafir. "On the one hand, an overwhelming majority of the public supports the reformists' agenda of western liberal values. On the other hand, there is the hardline power of the religious and military establishment that is literally committed to a radical political, religious, and social model."
It would be premature to conclude that the sudden events that has rumbled Iranian streets will mark a turning point in the history of Iran and consequently give way to a radical change in the Islamic regime. But it has been proven that the majority of Iranians are reformists, and this fact may compel the reformist movement to design a clear political work plan and structure its leadership.
"So while waiting for the new reformist agenda to emerge, it is likely that amid the latest developments the conservative regime will review its priorities. This is because it can no longer overlook the claims of the majority of Iranians even if it tries to deprive them of their votes or oppress them. One possible scenario is that the regime would give the opposition larger margins to manoeuvre outside the system's institutions. It is similarly possible that the authorities would promise a review of its irrational external ambitions."
"Yemen is facing serious challenges that threaten its security and stability," reported the leading article of the London-based daily Al Quds al Arabi. "The most prominent challenges are the Houthi rebellion in the north and the mounting protests against the regime in the south. The kidnapping of nine foreigners, including five members of one German family, added another burden on the already crisis-battered Yemeni government."
Criminal acts like these are neither new nor surprising in Yemen, but this time the abductors killed at least three of the nine hostages in Saada district, while the fate of the other six remains unknown. The way kidnappers behaved left no room for doubt that they aimed at disrupting the stability of the country and embarrassing the government as well as damaging further the faltering tourism industry.
"As events unfold, the Yemeni government stands responsible for the crimes committed against foreigners because it does not offer them the necessary protection and does not warn them of staying away from areas of high risk. The government is also to blame for its lax attitude in dealing with lawless tribes.
"Yemen today is in dire need of international support so that it can surmount its crises and prevent the country from sliding into anarchy."
"Some people believe that the US president Barack Obama's description of the speech of the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu being a 'great step forward' reflects the way the west treats Israel as a country that emerged as a victim of the Holocaust. It also reflects that the west tends to avoid direct confrontation with the Jewish state," wrote Randa Taqi al Dine in a comment piece featured in the London-based daily Al Hayat.
Others found President Obama's welcome as a step prior to exerting more pressure on Israel to enter into direct negotiations with Palestinian leaders. According to this view, the progress made following the advent of President Obama's administration revealed that the US had pressed the Israeli government in just the same way James Baker did during the former president George HW Bush's era.
Backed by both the Congress and the Jewish community, President Obama forced Israel to engage in talks about peace and take some concrete actions. Americans appeared to have adopted a "grading" strategy. First, they want the Israeli premier to accept the fundamental question: the establishment of Palestinian state. Then they can press him to waive his conditions. So if Americans read the speech as positive, this means they are willing to put further pressure on Israel. Yet no one can estimate to what degree the US can be successful.
The UAE newspaper Al Khaleej carried an opinion piece by Amjad Araar, who wrote: "The meeting this week between Fatah and Hamas witnessed an exchange of lists of political prisoners held in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Good move as it is, political detention is unacceptable and should be terminated altogether.
"Palestinians should understand that freedom is a fundamental human right and cannot by any means be a matter of bargaining, especially since most of the leaders of the Palestinian factions have been jailed previously and experienced hardship in occupation detention centres."
They also should understand that political detention had been one of the causes that led to the current crisis of division. So if the intention to put an end to this issue is a genuine one, it will be a major step towards overcoming persistent national differences. Yet for it to be successful, it should be treated separately and be considered as a main national priority per se.
"One year after the national division, all Palestinian forces are urged to engage in self-analysis. If they do, surely they will reach the same conclusion: the state of division in serves the interests of no one."
* Digest compiled by Moustapha Elmouloudi
melmouloudi@thenational.ae
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
more from Janine di Giovanni
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
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
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Iran's dirty tricks to dodge sanctions
There’s increased scrutiny on the tricks being used to keep commodities flowing to and from blacklisted countries. Here’s a description of how some work.
1 Going Dark
A common method to transport Iranian oil with stealth is to turn off the Automatic Identification System, an electronic device that pinpoints a ship’s location. Known as going dark, a vessel flicks the switch before berthing and typically reappears days later, masking the location of its load or discharge port.
2. Ship-to-Ship Transfers
A first vessel will take its clandestine cargo away from the country in question before transferring it to a waiting ship, all of this happening out of sight. The vessels will then sail in different directions. For about a third of Iranian exports, more than one tanker typically handles a load before it’s delivered to its final destination, analysts say.
3. Fake Destinations
Signaling the wrong destination to load or unload is another technique. Ships that intend to take cargo from Iran may indicate their loading ports in sanction-free places like Iraq. Ships can keep changing their destinations and end up not berthing at any of them.
4. Rebranded Barrels
Iranian barrels can also be rebranded as oil from a nation free from sanctions such as Iraq. The countries share fields along their border and the crude has similar characteristics. Oil from these deposits can be trucked out to another port and documents forged to hide Iran as the origin.
* Bloomberg
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')