Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaking during a meeting with officials of Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran, Iran, 21 July 2018. EPA/IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER OFFICE HANDOUT
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaking during a meeting with officials of Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran, Iran, 21 July 2018. EPA/IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER OFFICE HANDOUT
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaking during a meeting with officials of Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran, Iran, 21 July 2018. EPA/IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER OFFICE HANDOUT
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaking during a meeting with officials of Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran, Iran, 21 July 2018. EPA/IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER OFFICE HANDOUT

Khamenei-linked cleric to head German Islamic centre


Gareth Browne
  • English
  • Arabic

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) linked-cleric is to head one of Germany's largest Islamic centers, after being controversially awarded a visa this month.

Ayatollah Mohammad Hadi Mofateh was awarded a three-month visa by German authorities earlier this month, and will take charge of the Hamburg Islamic Centre, one of the oldest mosques in Germany.

German tabloid BILD reported that Mofateh had arrived in Germany in the past few days with his family, and was scheduled to take over management of the center in August. The manager of the center is considered one of Ayatollah Khamenei's principle representatives in Europe.

A CV of Mofateh’s posted to the internet openly proclaims his affiliation to the IRGC, it also lists him having worked for Voice of the Islamic Republic, a state news channel the head of which is appointed directly by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

A number of figures heavily involved in the revolution of 1979 spent time in residence at the center whilst in opposition to the Shah, including  Mohammad Khatami who served as President of the Islamic Republic until 2005.

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The revelations came as US Treasury officials revealed that Iran had been using German companies to acquire advanced printing equipment in order to print counterfeit currency that was being used to finance the group’s war-efforts in Yemen.

American officials said German companies “were being used as a cover by the Iranians to finance the world’s worst humanitarian conflict.”

The IRGC was outlawed as a terror organization by the United States in 2017, but Germany has refused to pass similar legislation.

In October 2007, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the IRGC had "played a pivotal role in making Iran the world's largest state terror sponsor".

The IRGC has played a major role in supporting Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in fighting opposition forces, and an increasing role supporting Houthis rebels in Yemen.

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GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

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Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

 

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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
ICC Awards for 2021

MEN

Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)

WOMEN

Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)

Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm

Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km

On sale: now

Price: Dh149,000

 

Match info

Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
Who are the Soroptimists?

The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.

The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.

Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

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Transmission: eight-speed auto

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Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

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Jetour T1 specs

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T20 World Cup Qualifier, Muscat

UAE FIXTURES

Friday February 18: v Ireland

Saturday February 19: v Germany

Monday February 21: v Philippines

Tuesday February 22: semi-finals

Thursday February 24: final 

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills