TEHRAN // Iran's foreign ministry has barred Tehran's mayor, Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, from attending a US non-governmental organisation's awards ceremony in Washington, a move critics say might be an attempt to prevent a rival to the Iranian president from basking in the spotlight.
Along with the mayors of Guangzhou, China; Lima, Peru; Nantes, France; and Leon, Mexico, Mr Qalibaf was picked by the Washington-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy to receive one of its 2011 sustainable transportation awards. He was chosen for overseeing Tehran's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and subway system.
Mr Qalibaf is a former Revolutionary Guards air force commander and was chief of the Tehran police during reformist Mohammad Khatami's presidency. He ran unsuccessfully against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in presidential elections of 2005 and was later elected mayor of Tehran by its city council.
Five BRT lines extending more than 100 kilometres transport 1.8 million passengers a day while the city's subway system, with its 75 stations and 125km of rail, caters to the needs of two million.
Much of the construction and development has taken place during the nearly six years of Mr Qalibaf's tenure as mayor of the capital.
Alireza Dabir, a member of Tehran's City Council, was scheduled to participate in the awards ceremony yesterday evening on behalf of Mr Qalibaf, city officials said on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after news agencies revealed the foreign ministry's ban on Saturday, Mr Qalibaf chose to downplay the incident.
"Whether I attend the ceremony or not after being invited and the reason [my participation] was opposed doesn't affect the original matter [of being nominated for the award]. I am not for making it a personal issue and [only] want the city of Tehran to achieve more honours," Mr Qalibaf told reporters at the inauguration Sunday of a new new metro line.
However, Tehran Emrouz, a newspaper that tends to support the mayor, strongly criticized the foreign ministry's decision and accused it of "sacrificing national interests at the foot of factional inclinations and political grudges".
Mr Qalibaf has been in a particularly bitter fight in the past year with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over the metro's development budget, which is supposed to be supplied by the municipality and the national government in equal amounts.
Some analysts believe the hardline faction led by Mr Ahmadinejad is concerned about the prospects of Mr Qalibaf putting up a tough challenge to their candidate, possibly chief of staff Esfandiar Rahim Mashie, in the 2013 presidential elections. The Washington visit could have bolstered the mayor's popularity and provided favorable publicity for him, they say.
Ali Afshari, an Iranian political activist living in the US told Radio Farda: "They want to block Qalibaf and prevent his nomination and success."
Despite parliament legislation authorising it do so nearly a year ago, the Ahmadinejad administration has so far refused to spend an extra US$1 billion on municipal transportation in Tehran from the country's oil reserve fund. The legislation is to expire in two months.
Last week, the minister of economic affairs and finance, Shamseddin Hosseini, claimed the fund had dried up and there was no money to give to the municipality, but many legislators said this was an excuse.
A conservative politician, Ali Mottahar, hinted last week at the possibility of grilling the president in the parliament about his administration's refusal to pay the money.
Mr Qalibaf said on Sunday that if the money is paid, Tehran's metro could increase to 4.5 million passengers a day from about 2 million now, with the construction of new rail lines, additional cars and more stations.
msinaiee@thenational.ae
Company%20Profile
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if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
The%20specs
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Kanye%20West
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
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Boston%20Strangler
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
Habib El Qalb
Assi Al Hallani
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Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
The%20Specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Dubai World Cup factbox
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Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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