US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley speaks to members of the Security Council at the United Nations headquarters in New York on February 24, 2018. Eduardo Munoz / Reuters
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley speaks to members of the Security Council at the United Nations headquarters in New York on February 24, 2018. Eduardo Munoz / Reuters
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley speaks to members of the Security Council at the United Nations headquarters in New York on February 24, 2018. Eduardo Munoz / Reuters
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley speaks to members of the Security Council at the United Nations headquarters in New York on February 24, 2018. Eduardo Munoz / Reuters

US threatens unilateral action against Iran after Russia UN veto


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The US threatened unilateral action against Iran after Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Tehran’s failure to stop its weapons from reaching Houthi rebels in Yemen.

"If Russia is going to continue to cover for Iran then the US and our partners need to take action on our own,” said US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Monday.

“If we’re not going to get action on the council then we have to take our actions.”

Ms Haley did not specify what kind of action could be taken.

Russia on Monday vetoed the resolution that would have expressed concern over Iran’s failure to block supplies of missile to the Houthis and called for “additional measures”.

It marks the second time in recent days that the Russian ambassador has used his position to shield a regional ally in the Middle East.

Iran said on Tuesday that Russia’s veto of the resolution — which was drafted by Britain and strongly supported by the US — represented another setback for America.

"Based on a one-sided report, they intended to pass a resolution that referred to Iran, but they failed," said Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, according to the official IRNA news agency.

"This is yet another failure by the US government to drag Iran to the Security Council.

"Over the past year the US government has tried many times to drag Iran to the Security Council and it has failed every single time.”

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Read more: Russia vetoes UN action against Iran over arming of Houthis

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Washington last month called for a Security Council emergency session to address street protests in Iran. Later in the month, a Security Council panel of experts released a report stating that missiles fired into Saudi Arabia from Yemen were made in Iran.

The report did not say Iran had supplied the missiles, but said the country was still in breach of an arms embargo on Yemen by failing to stop them reaching the rebel group.

"The biased allegation was absolutely clear in the way the report was formulated," said Mr Aragchi.

The investigating team had "made its own judgement even before travelling to Iran and hearing what we had to say. It was clear how others had influenced the report," he said, without specifying who was to blame.

After Russia vetoed the resolution on Monday, the 15-member Security Council unanimously adopted a Russian-drafted measure that extended the sanctions regime against Yemen for one year, but made no mention of Iran's involvement in the war there.

"We will definitely continue our policies in the region in the way that serves our national interests," Mr Aragchi said.

A Saudi-led Arab coalition — which includes the UAE — intervened in the Yemeni war in 2015 on behalf of the internationally recognised government of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

More than 10,000 people have died in fighting in Yemen that began as a domestic conflict after the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa. Millions of people are on the brink of famine and more than 22 million — almost the entire population — are in need, according to humanitarian agencies.

Iran has always denied arming the Houthis and has instead accused the US of faking evidence or has pointed the finger at other nations.

On Monday, it once again denied the allegations and said western powers were simply trying to shift the blame.

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The finalists

Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho

Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson

Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid

Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola

The specs

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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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 banned).

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.

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net

Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.

Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.

A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.

Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.

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  • 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
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  • 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
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