Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development
May 2023
Exclusive | Statements of the Head of Evin Prison During the 1988 Executions from the Perspective of Two Legal Experts
Two human rights lawyers analyzed statements made by Hossein Mortazavi Zanjani, the former head of Evin Prison, regarding the mass executions of political prisoners in…
Open Data Iran: The Number of Religious Seminaries in Iran is 5 Times Greater than Universities
A recent study by 'Open Data Iran' reveals that Iran has five times more religious seminaries than public universities, with significant funding allocated to these…
Ghazal Safari, Iranian Singer: The People of Iran Are Separate from Their Government
Ghazal Safari, an Iranian singer living in Britain after fleeing Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, emphasizes the distinction between the people of Iran and…
Preventing Mona Bakhtiari from Meeting Her Mother Nahid Shirpishah Due to Being 'Bakhtiari'
Mona Bakhtiari was denied a visit with her mother in Zanjan prison due to her Bakhtiari ethnicity, highlighting ongoing repression against families of protest victims…
Sweden to Hold 'Soon' Negotiations with Turkey for NATO Membership
Sweden's Foreign Ministry announced upcoming negotiations with Turkey regarding NATO membership, with hopes to finalize before the NATO summit in July. The process has been…
Judiciary: Unveiled Figures Will Be Deprived of Professional Activities
The Iranian Judiciary announced a new bill imposing harsher penalties on public figures who do not comply with mandatory hijab laws, including professional activity deprivation.…
Twitter Exits EU's Voluntary Agreement to Combat Misinformation
Twitter has withdrawn from the EU's voluntary agreement to combat misinformation, a move attributed to Elon Musk's efforts to reduce oversight of the platform. Despite…
New Research: NASA Scientists Observe a Polar Storm on the Mysterious Planet Uranus for the First Time
NASA scientists have observed a polar storm on Uranus for the first time, providing new insights into the planet's atmosphere. This discovery helps enhance our…
Argument Between Aliyev and Pashinyan in Front of Putin
Azerbaijan and Armenia's leaders argued over territorial disputes regarding Nagorno-Karabakh in front of Russian President Putin. The discussion highlighted ongoing tensions, particularly over the Lachin…
New Social Progress Index Report; Slow Progress of Iran Over Three Decades
A new report by the Social Progress Imperative ranks Iran 93rd out of 170 countries in terms of social progress, highlighting a slow increase in…
Ongoing Water Dispute; Amir-Abdollahian: The Islamic Republic Does Not Recognize the Taliban
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated that the Islamic Republic does not recognize the Taliban and emphasized the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan…
A Newspaper's Criticism of Wage Levels: They Want to Lead Society to Unlimited Misery
The Iranian newspaper Ham-Mihan criticized the government's decision-making regarding wage increases, claiming it leads society towards poverty. The article highlights the insufficient minimum wage for…
Iran's Environment at Risk; Ebrahim Raisi's Government Removes 'Environmental Impact Assessment of Projects' from the Seventh Development Plan
The Iranian government has removed the requirement for environmental impact assessments from its Seventh Development Plan, leading to concerns about a potential environmental disaster. This…
Restoring Real Sensation to Prosthetic Hands; Afghan-Origin Scientist from Lausanne Polytechnic Explains to Voice of America
Dr. Soleiman Shakur and his team at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne are developing technology to restore temperature sensation in prosthetic limbs for amputees.…
Response of Pop Music Readers to the Minister of Culture's Statements: Don't Deceive the People
The Iranian Minister of Culture claimed that rumors about the prohibition of pop singers are false, leading to backlash from artists like Reza Sadeghi, who…
French Citizen Taken Hostage Hospitalized After Release from Islamic Republic Prison
Benjamin Brier, a French citizen recently released from an Iranian prison, has been hospitalized for recovery after a lengthy hunger strike. He expressed concern for…
Fatemeh Sepahri's Brother to VOA: She Was Returned to Prison Without Completing Treatment
Fatemeh Sepahri, a political prisoner, was returned to prison after a hospital visit for a reopened hand wound. Her brother expressed concerns about her health…
Experts Discuss Water Crisis; Deputy Minister of Agriculture Claims 'We Have Water for 2 Billion People'
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture in Iran claimed that the country has enough water to supply the needs of 2 billion people, a statement met…
Senator Jim Risch: The Position of the Islamic Republic as a 'Detestable Element' in the Global Community is Being Established
Senator Jim Risch condemned the recent executions of protesters in Iran, asserting that they solidify the Islamic Republic's status as a detestable entity globally. He…
Israel Aims to Become an 'Artificial Intelligence Superpower'
Retired General Eyal Zamir announced Israel's ambitions to become a leader in artificial intelligence, focusing on military applications and significant budget investments. This initiative reflects…
US-Led Maritime Security Coalition: A New 'Strike Group' is Formed in the Middle East
The US-led maritime security coalition has formed a new 'Combined Task Force' in the Middle East to enhance naval capabilities and training among allied forces.…
Pashinyan: Armenia 'conditionally' recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan
Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia is willing to conditionally recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan if the rights of the Armenian population…
Conflicting Reports on the Situation in Bakhmut
On Sunday, conflicting reports emerged from Russia and Ukraine regarding the status of Bakhmut, with Ukraine claiming it still controls part of the city while…
Award Given to Zahra Amirabrahimi at Cannes Festival; Cate Blanchett Supports Iranian Women
Cate Blanchett showed solidarity with Iranian women by attending the Cannes Film Festival barefoot and presenting an award to Zahra Amirabrahimi, who spoke out against…
The U.S. Halts Exports of a Wide Range of Everyday Goods to Russia
The U.S. has halted exports of various consumer goods to Russia and added 71 companies to a trade blacklist as part of new sanctions announced…
Life Sentence for Sayfullo Saipov, Attacker of the New York Terrorist Incident
Sayfullo Saipov has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 terrorist attack in New York that killed eight people. The court heard from…
Prince Reza Pahlavi Meets Senator Blumenthal on 'Maximum Support' for the People of Iran
Prince Reza Pahlavi met with Senator Richard Blumenthal to discuss U.S. support for Iranian protests. The meeting was part of a campaign by the National…
Inauguration of the First Border Market between Iran and Pakistan
The first border market between Iran and Pakistan was inaugurated in Pishin, Balochistan, aimed at enhancing trade relations. Both leaders emphasized improving security along the…
Taghi Rahmani: Iranians Abroad Should Continue to Be the Voice of the People Inside
Taghi Rahmani emphasizes the importance of Iranians abroad continuing to amplify the voices of protesters inside Iran. He advocates for increased support for political prisoners…
Exclusive; Benjamin Brier's Sister: We Are Worried About Other Hostages
Blandine Brier, sister of released French hostage Benjamin Brier, expresses concern for other hostages still held in Iran. She highlights Benjamin's recovery process while emphasizing…
Russia's Claim of Destroying a Patriot System; Ukraine: It's Empty Propaganda
Ukraine denies Russia's claim of destroying a Patriot missile defense system, labeling it as propaganda. American officials suggest that while one system may have been…
Attack on Convoy Carrying US Embassy Staff in Nigeria; Four Killed
A convoy carrying US embassy staff in Nigeria was attacked, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including two embassy employees and two police officers.…
New Findings from the Pompeii Ruins; Earthquakes Also Contributed to the Deaths
New archaeological findings reveal that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius was accompanied by significant earthquakes that contributed to the fatalities in Pompeii. Experts discovered two…
Britain's Promise to Send Hundreds of Anti-Aircraft Missiles and Long-Range Drones to Ukraine
Britain has announced a significant military aid package to Ukraine, including anti-aircraft missiles and long-range drones, amid ongoing discussions for NATO membership. This move follows…
Turkey's Elections and the Disappointment of Kilicdaroglu's Supporters: 'I Wish I Had Been Born in Another Country'
Turkey's presidential elections have moved to a second round after President Erdogan led in the first round with 49.4% of the votes against Kemal Kilicdaroglu's…
Turkey Elections; Twitter Rhetoric of Main Rivals as Vote Counting Nears Completion
The Turkish presidential elections have concluded, with Recep Tayyip Erdogan leading against Kemal Kilicdaroglu as votes are counted. Both candidates have taken to Twitter to…
Zelensky in Germany: We Can Make Russia's Defeat 'Irreversible'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in Berlin that Ukraine and its Western allies can make Russia's defeat irreversible by the end of the year. He…
Turkey Elections; Erdogan Becomes Imam of Hagia Sophia in Ottoman Sultan Style
Erdogan is set to become the imam at Hagia Sophia before crucial elections, mimicking Ottoman traditions. His main rival, Kilicdaroglu, leads a coalition that has…
Islamic Jihad Rocket Fire in Gaza; Israel Rejects 'Immediate Ceasefire'
Israel has rejected an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, blaming Palestinian militants for ongoing violence as Islamic Jihad continues its rocket attacks. The situation has escalated…
Plan to Reduce Economic Dependence on China; EU Ministers Support It
EU foreign ministers have expressed support for a plan to reduce economic reliance on China, recognizing it as both a political rival and economic competitor.…
Mawlawi Abdulhamid: The Root of the Country's Problems is the Incorrect Conduct of Elections by the Government
Mawlawi Abdulhamid, a prominent Sunni cleric in Iran, criticized the government's handling of elections as the root cause of the country's problems and protests. He…
Israel says the war will continue as long as necessary
Israel's military campaign against Islamic Jihad continues following a missile attack that killed one Israeli and injured ten. Netanyahu has vowed to keep the offensive…
Iran Women's Hockey Coach: Equipment and Ticket Costs Covered Personally
The Iranian women's ice hockey team secured second place in the Asian championships, with players covering their own travel costs due to a lack of…
Poland Changes Name of Kaliningrad Region to Krolowicz
Poland has officially changed the name of the Kaliningrad region to Krolowicz, provoking a strong reaction from Russia. This decision reflects Poland's stance against Russification…
WhatsApp Responds to Elon Musk's Claim: Don't Worry About 'Unauthorized Use' of Your Microphone
WhatsApp addressed claims by Elon Musk regarding unauthorized microphone usage, attributing the issue to a bug in Android. Musk criticized Zuckerberg over privacy concerns and…
Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel is Prepared to Fight Iran on Multiple Fronts if Necessary
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is ready to confront Iran on multiple fronts to prevent it from establishing terror networks and acquiring…
Joe Biden Calls for a 'Fair Agreement' for Striking Writers in Hollywood
President Joe Biden has called for a fair agreement for striking Hollywood writers during an event at the White House. The writers are protesting for…
Russia: About 1,700 Residents Near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Evacuated
Approximately 1,700 residents, including 660 children, have been evacuated from areas near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant due to escalating tensions and potential dangers. The…
Diplomatic Tension Over 'Migrants'; Italy Asks France for a 'Clearer' Apology
Italy's Foreign Minister expressed dissatisfaction with France's apologies regarding comments on migrant management, calling for a clearer apology. Tensions escalated after the French Interior Minister…
Israel Returns Detained Jordanian Lawmaker to His Country
Israel has returned Jordanian lawmaker Imad Al-Adwan, arrested for attempting to smuggle weapons into the West Bank, to Jordan for legal proceedings. His parliamentary immunity…
The First Lady of the United States Calls the Coronation of the King of Britain a Historic Moment
Jill Biden represented the U.S. at the coronation of King Charles III, calling it a historic moment. This marks the first time a U.S. First…
Israel Expresses Hope for Improved Relations with Saudi Arabia; U.S. Can Mediate
Israel's National Security Advisor is optimistic about improved relations with Saudi Arabia following Jake Sullivan's upcoming visit. The U.S. aims to mediate this process, which…
Temporary End of 72 Days of Resistance on Strong Medical Advice; Vahid Beheshti Forced to Break Hunger Strike
Vahid Beheshti, a political activist, ended his 72-day hunger strike on medical advice after his health deteriorated. His protest aimed to have the IRGC recognized…
U.S. Intelligence Assessment: Putin 'Likely' Reduced Ambitions in Ukraine
U.S. intelligence suggests that Vladimir Putin has likely scaled back his ambitions in Ukraine as the war enters its second year, acknowledging the realities on…
Concern Expressed by Kayvan Samimi's Lawyer Over His Condition; No Charges or Detaining Authority Identified
Kayvan Samimi's lawyer has raised concerns about his client's detention, stating that there is no information regarding the charges or the authority responsible for his…
The United Nations Condemns Taliban's Policy Against Media and Journalists in Afghanistan
The UN condemned the Taliban's oppressive policies against journalists in Afghanistan on World Press Freedom Day, highlighting the severe restrictions and dangers faced by media…
Turkey Sentences Pop Singer to Suspended Prison Term After Remarks on Religious Schools
A Turkish court sentenced pop singer Gulsher to a 10-month suspended prison term for remarks about religious schools that were deemed to incite hatred. His…
United States: Russia has suffered 100,000 casualties in Ukraine over 5 months
The U.S. estimates that Russia has incurred 100,000 casualties in Ukraine over the last five months, primarily in the Bakhmut region, where both sides have…
An Expert: Online Marketing Under the Blade of Filtering and Internet Outages in Iran, Died and Came Back to Life
A digital marketing expert in Iran highlights the severe challenges faced by the industry due to internet filtering and outages, stating that many global platforms…
Mawlawi Abdolhamid: If Detaining Us Solves People's Problems, Then Imprison Us
Mawlawi Abdolhamid criticized the Iranian authorities for failing to address the people's problems, suggesting that if detaining protesters could solve these issues, they should imprison…
An Iranian Health Ministry Official Confirms 'Rotavirus Outbreak'; Domestic Vaccine Production by Year-End
An Iranian health official confirmed a rotavirus outbreak in Tehran, stating it is a recurring issue. A domestic vaccine is expected to be produced by…
Pope Francis: Vatican Participates in Secret Peace Mission for Ukraine
Pope Francis announced the Vatican's involvement in a secret peace mission aimed at resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including efforts to return abducted…