Iran shut down the internet as protesters rallied on Tuesday over a building collapse last week that killed at least 36 people in the country’s south-west.
The internet disruption affected the oil-rich Khuzestan province, leaving journalists and activists struggling to confirm events on the ground or share footage.
Videos of the protests circulated widely online, with some showing officers beating protesters and firing tear gas at them. The number of casualties and arrests remains unclear.
Footage analysed by the Associated Press corresponded to known features of Abadan, about 660 kilometres south-west of the capital, Tehran.
A large section of the unfinished 10-storey Metrol building collapsed in the city of Abadan on May 23 in one of Iran's deadliest disasters in recent years.
Rescue workers pulled three more bodies from the rubble late on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 36 amid fears that more people could be trapped underneath the collapsed structure.
Five of the victims were children, the official IRNA news agency reported. Thirty-seven people were injured in the collapse, with two still in hospital.
Officials said shoddy construction practices, lax regulation and entrenched corruption were to blame, raising questions about the safety of similar buildings in the earthquake-prone country.
Authorities reported that they had moved residents from buildings near the disaster site out of fear that part of the building that remains standing could collapse.
The internet interference in Khuzestan province began in early May, weeks before the collapse of the building, said Amir Rashidi, director of internet security and digital rights at Miaan Group, which focuses on digital security in the Middle East.
The province, home to an ethnic Arab population that has long claimed it is suffering discrimination, was the centre of protests over the sinking economy and rapidly increasing prices of food.
Data shared by the Miaan Group showed that internet disruptions then intensified in the area after the collapse of the building last week.
The disaster ignited widespread anger in Abadan, where residents gathered every night at the site of the collapse to shout slogans against the government, which they accuse of negligence.
Mahsa Alimardani, a senior researcher at Article 19, an international organisation that fights censorship, said authorities appeared to have restricted bandwidth during the day to make it difficult for people to share large files such as video footage without leaving Abadan altogether.
The government in Tehran has shut down the internet during times of unrest and national disasters to limit coverage. At other times, it has allowed the tightly controlled use of a domestic intranet, said the Miaan Group.
Radio and television stations are state controlled and journalists' lives are at stake, activists have said in the past.
Last Friday, as huge crowds took to the streets to chant against top officials, a digital barricade of sorts went up between Iran and the world, data showed.
Only certain government-approved national websites could stream content but not websites based abroad.
“There has been a pattern that we have seen when it gets dark, where Google isn’t working but the website of the Supreme Leader is working well,” Ms Rashidi said.
The Iranian mission at the UN did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The turmoil in the country comes at a time when talks to restore its nuclear deal with world powers have hit a deadlock.
Tension has simmered as Iran accelerates its nuclear programme far beyond the limits of the nuclear deal. Last week, it seized two Greek tankers on a key oil route through the Arabian Gulf.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry criticised the International Atomic Energy Agency over its quarterly report on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the agency's report, released on Monday, was “not fair and balanced” after it revealed that Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile had increased by 18 times since the 2015 nuclear deal.
The UN nuclear watchdog also said that Tehran had repeatedly failed to explain traces of uranium particles that the agency's inspectors found at former undeclared sites in the country, long a sore point between Iran and the agency despite a recent push for a resolution by June.
Mr Khatibzadeh said the agency’s statements “did not reflect the reality of talks between Iran and the agency”.
“The agency should be watchful and not destroy the path we walked down, with difficulty,” he told reporters in Tehran.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian addressed the stalled indirect negotiations with the US, telling reporters he had communicated Tehran's concerns to Vice President Kamala Harris through a third party when they were in Munich earlier this year.
Iran has repeatedly demanded guarantees that no future US president can unilaterally abandon the agreement, as Donald Trump did in 2018. The White House has said it cannot make such a commitment.
Mr Amirabdollahian said he had asked the mediator to “tell Ms Kamala Harris if a group of rebels are going to take over the White House, could you please let us know”.
“Even if rebels take over, they must be committed to international agreements,” Mr Amirabdollahian said.
The White House has not acknowledged any such message.
In a recent interview with France’s Le Figaro newspaper, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said his country was “always glad to help” when asked if Muscat was hosting new secret talks between Iran and the US.
Oman hosted the secret talks that led to the 2015 nuclear deal.
“I am hopeful that we can achieve a new dynamic to reach an agreement,” he said. “It is in the interest of our region and the world.”
West Asia rugby, season 2017/18 - Roll of Honour
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26
SUZUME
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Makoto%20Shinkai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Nanoka%20Hara%2C%20Hokuto%20Matsumura%2C%20Eri%20Fukatsu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
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Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Company%20profile
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Company%20profile
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Law%2041.9.4%20of%20men%E2%80%99s%20T20I%20playing%20conditions
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
