President Sheikh Mohamed has expressed his “deepest condolences” over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan provincial governor Malik Rahmati and Mohammed Ali Ale Hashem, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's representative to East Azerbaijan, also died in the crash in north-west Iran on Sunday.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the Iranian government and people over the passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and those accompanying them following a tragic accident,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X.
“We pray that God grants them eternal rest and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families. The UAE stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also offered condolences to the “brotherly Iranian people and their leadership”.
“Our hearts are with you in this difficult time,” Sheikh Mohammed said on X.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, also extended his condolences.
“My sincere condolences to the Iranian government on the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Dr Hossein Amirabdollahian and their companions in the tragic accident,” Dr Gargash wrote on X.
“Our condolences to their families and the Iranian people, and we stand by them in these difficult times.”
Leaders and officials from the region, countries with strong ties with Iran, as well as Iran-backed armed groups, also issued messages of condolences.
Saudi Arabia
King Salman sent a message of condolences to Iran's interim President Mohammad Mokhber.
“We learnt of the news of the death of His Excellency Dr Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic republic of Iran, and his companions – may God have mercy on them – and we send you and the brotherly people of the Islamic republic of Iran our deepest and sincere condolences,” King Salman said, as reported by Saudi state media.
Saudi Arabia and Iran restored relations in a deal brokered by China in March 2023, after having cut off ties seven years earlier.
Bahrain
King Hamad sent a letter of condolences to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Bahrain news agency reported.
“His majesty extended condolences to the Iranian supreme leader, the people of Iran and the families of the demised,” the letter said.
Qatar
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim called the news of Mr Raisi’s passing “painful” and expressed “sincere condolences” to the people and government of Iran.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani opened the Global Security Forum in Doha by offering condolences to Iran.
Syria
“We worked with the late President to ensure that the strategic relations between Syria and Iran remain prosperous always,” President Bashar Al Assad said, expressing deep regret over Mr Raisi’s passing.
Iran has been a key ally of the Assad regime throughout the civil war, which broke out in 2011.
Iraq
“It is with great sadness and great sorrow that we received the news of the death of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” a statement from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani's office read.
“We express our solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people and with the responsible brothers in the Islamic Republic in this painful tragedy.”
Iran and Iraq have had strong relations since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003. Tehran and Baghdad are bound by economic, religious and social ties. Dozens of armed Iraqi groups are also affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani offered his condolences to the Iranian people and government and “especially the grieving families for this painful tragedy”.
The country has also declared Tuesday as a day of mourning.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces expressed condolences, saying Mr Raisi had “always declared that Iraq and Iran are one people that cannot be separated”.
Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba, both affiliated to Iran, expressed their sympathies.
The GCC
GCC Secretary General Jasem Al Budaiwi extended his condolences after the “tragic accident.”
Mr Al Budaiwi emphasised the “solidarity of the GCC with the government and people of Iran in these difficult circumstances”, a statement read.
Egypt
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said his country stood in solidarity with the Iranian people and leadership over “this horrendous loss”.
Relations between Egypt and Iran have recently thawed after decades of tension but have yet to be fully restored.
United States
The US has expressed its official condolences after the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash in north-west Iran.
“As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms” spokesman Mathew Miller said.
Turkey
In his condolence message, Turkey's President described his late Iranian counterpart as a “valuable colleague and brother”.
“As a colleague who personally witnessed his efforts for the peace of the Iranian people and our region during his time in power, I remember Mr Raisi with respect and gratitude,” Mr Erdogan said on X.
Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded Mr Raisi as “a true friend of Russia” in a message of condolence to Mr Khamenei.
“As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good neighbourly relations between our countries and made great efforts to bring them to the level of strategic partnership,” Mr Putin said.
China
China’s President said the “tragic death” of Mr Raisi was “a great loss to the Iranian people”.
“President Xi Jinping pointed out … His tragic death is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people have lost a good friend,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
India
“Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic republic of Iran,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X.
He praised Mr Raisi for his contribution to strengthening ties between their two countries.
“India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”
Pakistan
“I along with the government and people of Pakistan extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on this terrible loss,” Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on X.
Iran and Pakistan have close historical and religious ties but have also faced obstacles.
In January, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Pakistan’s Balochistan province, killing at least five. Pakistan responded with military strikes that killed at least nine.
Both countries then released reconciliatory statements.
The EU
The EU expressed its “sincere condolences” over the death of Mr Raisi and other officials.
“Our thoughts go out to the families,” European Council President Charles Michel said on X.
In addition to world leaders, Iran’s proxy groups have also issued statements of condolences.
IAEA
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, expressed his condolences and held a minute of silence for Mr Raisi and Mr Amirabdollahian at the International Conference on Nuclear Security.
“Our thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time,” he said.
Yemen's Houthi rebels
“Our deepest condolences to the Iranian people, the Iranian leadership and the families of President Raisi and the accompanying delegation on their reported martyrdom,” the leader of the Yemen's Houthi rebels said on X.
The Houthis, who control Sanaa and territories in the north and west of the country, are part of the Axis of Resistance, an anti-western political and military coalition led by Tehran.
“The Iranian people will remain adhering to the loyal leaders of their people, by God's will,” Muhammad Al Houthi said.
Hezbollah
Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group praised Mr Raisi as the “protector” of the resistance.
He was “a strong supporter, and a staunch defender of our causes … and a protector of the resistance movements”, the group said in a statement.
Lebanon's government declared three days of mourning for Mr Raisi.
Hamas
Hamas mourned Mr Raisi as an “honourable supporter” of the Palestinian cause. The Palestinian armed group said it appreciated the late President’s “support for the Palestinian resistance, and tireless efforts in solidarity” since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7.
Iran supports Hamas financially and militarily. Under Mr Raisi, Tehran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel in retaliation to an air strike – widely blamed on Israel – on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that killed senior members of the IRGC.
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
T20 World Cup Qualifier
Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets
Qualified teams
1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman
T20 World Cup 2020, Australia
Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
THE BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Whenever I have any free time I always go back to see my family in Caltra, Galway, it’s the only place I can properly relax.
Favourite film: The Way, starring Martin Sheen. It’s about the Camino de Santiago walk from France to Spain.
Personal motto: If something’s meant for you it won’t pass you by.
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The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Company%20profile
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Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
AIR
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Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
