When the US eased internet sanctions on Iran to ensure Iranians would continue to have access to information during the mass protest movement currently engulfing the country, Elon Musk tweeted that he was “activating Starlink”.
Mr Musk had said previously that SpaceX, the satellite company he founded in 2002 that operates Starlink, would seek an exemption from the US government to provide the broadband service to Iran.
As of Sunday, Starlink was activated in the country, Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, quoted Mr Musk as saying.
Following Russian cyber attacks and the invasion on February 24, SpaceX sent Starlink terminals to Ukraine to bolster the country's access to the internet.
Mr Musk appears to be undertaking a similar effort now, as Iran grapples with protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in the custody of the morality police after allegedly failing to cover her hair properly.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is SpaceX's network of about 3,000 low-orbit satellites designed to deliver high-speed internet services to the world, particularly remote and rural locations.
Subscribers can engage in data-hungry online activities — gaming, streaming, video calls and more — that would otherwise be impossible.
Starlink satellites orbit the planet at a much closer distance than typical satellites, making high-data-rate activities easier to support.
A Starlink kit has “everything you need to get online in minutes”, the company says. Users who sign up for the service receive a kit that includes the Starlink terminal and base, a router, a power supply and cables.
The terminal is self-orientating and can easily connect to the internet as long as it has a clear view of the sky.
The residential Starlink package costs $110 per month, with a one-time hardware fee of $599. The company also offers a Starlink for motorhomes package, “ideal for customers travelling to locations where connectivity has been unreliable or completely unavailable”.
SpaceX told US regulators earlier this year that Starlink users had surpassed 400,000.
How can it be used in Iran?
The easing of US internet sanctions against Tehran is designed to circumvent Iran's censorship and surveillance tools.
The move, which comes after Iran cut web access to about 80 million residents, included updated guidance that allows companies to offer their platforms and services to people inside the country.
Starlink would be able to beam internet access to people inside Iran, allowing them to bypass the country's censorship networks and share information about the violent crackdown as well as help them mobilise or communicate with friends and family.
However, a significant obstacle faces SpaceX and those inside Iran looking to use Starlink.
Because the Starlink terminals are hardware-based, Iran would first need to allow them to enter the country. That is highly unlikely in today's political climate.
Without giving details, Mr Sadjadpour suggested the issue was “surmountable”.
Mr Musk's company received permission from Ukraine to deliver 15,000-plus Starlink terminals earlier this year. The service has been credited with keeping Ukraine's communications networks afloat and foiling Russian jammers.
However, the billionaire said on October 14 that his company was losing almost $20 million a month on providing the service to Ukraine and could not afford to do so indefinitely. Pentagon officials confirmed receiving a request for funding from Mr Musk and said they were "assessing our options".
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
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6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
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The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Spec%20sheet
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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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
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Ronaldo's record at Man Utd
Seasons 2003/04 - 2008/09
Appearances 230
Goals 115
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
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Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')
Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')
Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)
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Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Women%E2%80%99s%20Asia%20Cup
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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
