A still from a video posted on January 29 shows the explosion in Iran's Isfahan province. AFP
A still from a video posted on January 29 shows the explosion in Iran's Isfahan province. AFP
A still from a video posted on January 29 shows the explosion in Iran's Isfahan province. AFP
A still from a video posted on January 29 shows the explosion in Iran's Isfahan province. AFP

UN calls for 'maximum restraint' after drones attack Iranian military factory


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The UN on Monday called for “maximum restraint” after a drone attack on an Iranian weapons factory in the central city of Isfahan.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, urged all parties to refrain from any “escalatory action” and “respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states”.

Mr Dujarric said Mr Guterres had been following with “concern” reports of incidents over the weekend in Iran.

No country has claimed responsibility for the attack but it is not uncommon for Israel to strike inside Iran.

Iran’s Defence Ministry said two drones had been shot down, while another caused damage to the factory’s roof.

Iran’s official news agency, Irna, reported on Sunday that the drones were aimed at an ammunition factory and had been intercepted by a surface-to-air defence system.

Quoting unidentified US officials and sources, The Wall Street Journal said Israel conducted the drone strike.

"In the course of the previous government in Israel, we saw attacks on Iran's ministry facilities and military personnel," said Ali Vaez, who leads the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group.

"This is basically the Netanyahu government coming back to the implementation of the same policy."

The strike comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting the Middle East, including Israel.

Mr Blinken avoided questions on the attack but said the US supported Israel in defence against Iran.

"Iran is a threat not only of Israel in the region, but increasingly to the world, as we've seen recently, in its provision of drones to Russia to prosecute its war of aggression in Ukraine," he said.

David Makovsky, director of the Koret Project on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute, said the strike was "a function of a belief that Iran is making progress on missiles and drones, and I think they probably felt the timing is good".

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday. EPA
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday. EPA
The biog

Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.

Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.

Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.

Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.

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Specs

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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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

Hydrogen: Market potential

Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.

"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.

Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.

The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

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Price: From Dh149,900

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Florida: The critical Sunshine State

Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991. 

Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.

In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.

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Last-16 Europa League fixtures

Wednesday (Kick-offs UAE)

FC Copenhagen (0) v Istanbul Basaksehir (1) 8.55pm

Shakhtar Donetsk (2) v Wolfsburg (1) 8.55pm

Inter Milan v Getafe (one leg only) 11pm

Manchester United (5) v LASK (0) 11pm 

Thursday

Bayer Leverkusen (3) v Rangers (1) 8.55pm

Sevilla v Roma  (one leg only)  8.55pm

FC Basel (3) v Eintracht Frankfurt (0) 11pm 

Wolves (1) Olympiakos (1) 11pm 

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.

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt

Updated: January 30, 2023, 8:58 PM`