Members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired live ammunition at protesters in the Kurdish city of Mariwan on Thursday night, as locals defied looming threats of a fresh crackdown ahead of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death.
Security forces shot at civilians gathered in Mariwan, human rights groups reported, while demonstrations also took place in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj, where most people are on strike ahead of the anniversary of the beginning of the protest movement.
Chilling footage of hordes of security forces gathering across western Iran has circulated widely in recent days, with a heavy security presence on the road to Aichi cemetery in Saqqez, the final resting place of Ms Amini.
Her death in morality police custody was the catalyst for anti-regime protests that swept across Iran last autumn, when thousands took to the streets to demonstrate against oppression.
Rights groups say about 500 people were killed in the ensuing crackdown and at least 18,000 arrested in the biggest demonstrations against the regime in its five decades of rule.
A 12-year-old boy was severely wounded after being shot in Kermanshah on Thursday night, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, which focuses on Kurdish areas of Iran.
In Sanandaj, youths chanted anti-regime slogans despite a heavy security presence in the city.
A young woman in the city, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The National she would like to protest but fears for her safety.
“With all the security forces here, I think it's better to not leave the house. We are being watched everywhere.”
Thousands of IRGC members have reportedly been sent to the Kurdish west, where demonstrations began, ahead of expected protests this weekend. Internet access is sporadic, with the connection regularly cut off in times of unrest.
Tehran has focused its efforts on suppressing protesters in Kurdish and Baloch areas of Iran, where anti-regime sentiment has been particularly fierce, although protests have taken place nationwide.
Political prisoners have also joined in commemorations, with some jailed university students going on hunger strike until the anniversary of Ms Amini's death.
In Tehran, one protester told The National he will attend protests despite the prospect of being killed, following the death of a young man calling for protests in Karaj on Wednesday.
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
Juventus v Napoli, Sunday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Match on Bein Sports
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Ajax v Real Madrid, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Company%20Profile
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UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Company%20profile
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PROFILE BOX:
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Rami Salman, Rishav Jalan, Ayush Chordia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Technology, Sales, Voice, Artificial Intelligence
Size: (employees/revenue) 10/ 100,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($800,000)
Investors: Eight first-round investors including, Beco Capital, 500 Startups, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Hala Fadel, Odin Financial Services, Dubai Angel Investors, Womena, Arzan VC
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
