Donald Trump's first State of the Union address coincided roughly with the one-month mark since the beginning of the anti-regime uprisings in Iran. Under Mr Trump's predecessor, the US had remained silent as thousands of Iranians protested in 2009. This time, Mr Trump vowed, "America stands with the people of Iran in their courageous struggle for freedom". And though this may seem counterintuitive, standing with the ordinary men and women who have been reduced to penury by their "criminal dictatorship" requires, as Mr Trump pointed out, addressing the "fundamental flaws" in the Iran nuclear deal.
The deal, compromised from the start, made major concessions in the hope that allowing Iran to re-enter the international community would moderate the behaviour of its government and help its people. What the deal has in reality done is enrich the regime. It is after the deal was struck in 2015 that Tehran multiplied its efforts to destabilise the region, while staging provocative ballistic missile tests at home.
To make matters worse, evidence of non-compliance with the deal has continued to accrue. Meanwhile, the wealth generated by the nuclear accords, never percolated down to the people of Iran. Once promoted as a means to an end, the deal has since its signing become, particularly to its European champions, a sacred end in itself. The US, on the other hand, is adopting an approach that takes into account Iran's actions. Last week, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, showed her counterparts on the UN security council remnants of the Houthi-launched Iranian missile that struck Saudi Arabia in December and warned that the US would withdraw from the deal unless there is a concerted effort to crack down on Iran's missile programme.
All of this signals the emergence of a new approach that places the actual security of the region above the sanctity of the deal. If the accord is to survive, it must be revised and reformed. What we need, as Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed, the UAE's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, explained recently in the Financial Times, "is a new accord", which achieves three things. First, it must tackle Iran's ability to fund extremism. Second, it must reduce the regime's destructive capability and finally, it must limit Tehran's missile programme. In doing so, he outlined a blueprint for a nuclear deal 2.0.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
RESULTS
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
Company%20Profile
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
