In the war of words over Iran's nuclear programme, the week that just ended veered dangerously close to conflict. At least, that's what leaders on both sides would have us believe.
Vitriol makes good headlines, but shouldn't be confused with policy. There is still reason to believe that patience and pragmatism will win the day.
During a week in which the Pentagon promised "to respond" to Iranian intransigence, and Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that Iran would retaliate with "10 times" the force, it was uncharacteristically Israel that sounded a note of caution.
Speaking at a conference on Thursday, the Israeli defence minister, Ehud Barak, said his country would "consider taking action" only if economic sanctions failed to get the job done. Israel remains a dangerous variable in this equation, but this last point is key.
Sanctions are only now beginning to take effect, depleting state coffers and leading to the devaluation of the Iranian rial. European sanctions on Iranian oil, meanwhile, don't take full effect until July. While Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has predicted Iran's economy will grow in 2012, few impartial economists believe him. Moving towards a military option before these new tools are allowed to work would be premature, as well as wildly irresponsible.
For now, the biggest danger to regional stability is the risk of self-fulfilling prophecies. History is replete with examples of leaders looking to walk to the edge of conflict, only to be pushed over it by the weight of their rhetoric. The British politician David Lloyd George described the First World War as governments looking to avoid conflict but instead "backing over the precipice".
Diplomatic tools may not convince Tehran to abandon enrichment activities, which are popular among its people. After hints that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency would be given greater access to pick apart the Iranian programme, teams returned to Vienna last week largely empty-handed.
And yet the alternative - abandoning diplomacy and dropping bombs on Qoms, Natanz and other nuclear sites - would only embolden Iran and its supporters. For all the talk of how dangerous a nuclear-armed Tehran would be, this regime would gain far more strategically if it were pre-emptively attacked. That would garner regional support and harden the hawkish stance of its domestic leaders.
Today Iran is more isolated than ever, especially with allies in Damascus facing defeat. Giving up on economic power in favour of force would be handing a hard-earned advantage back to Tehran.
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Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
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 PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Fixtures (6pm UAE unless stated)
Saturday Bournemouth v Leicester City, Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm), Huddersfield v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm), Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke City v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Swansea City
Sunday Arsenal v Brighton (3pm), Everton v Burnley (5.15pm), Newcastle United v Liverpool (6.30pm)
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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.
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Opening Rugby Championship fixtures:Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
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
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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MO
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
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