UAE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran said Saturday it executed a former high-ranking defense ministry official and dual Iranian-British national, despite international warnings not to carry out the death sentence. The execution further escalated tensions with the West amid the nationwide anti-government protests shaking the Islamic Republic.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran said it executed two men Saturday convicted of allegedly killing a paramilitary volunteer during a demonstration, the latest executions aimed at halting the nationwide protests now challenging the country’s theocracy.

Iran’s judiciary identified those executed as Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini, making it four men known to have been executed since the demonstrations began in September over the death of Mahsa Amini. All have faced internationally criticized, rapid, closed-door trials.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Local media are reporting that Iran has released a prominent actress nearly three weeks after she was jailed for expressing solidarity with a man who was executed over unrest linked to anti-government protests.

Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency reported Wednesday that Taraneh Alidoosti, the 38-year-old star of Asghar Farhadi’s Oscar-winning “The Salesman,” was released on bail. Her mother, Nadere Hakimelahi, said she would be released in a post on Instagram.

03 Jan 2023; MEMO: The UAE has been ranked as first in the Middle East and ninth globally in terms of power according to the US News Best Countries rankings.

01 Jan 2023; MEMO: President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Saturday congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on assuming office, Anadolu reports.

Bin Zayed made a phone call with Netanyahu during which he congratulated him on the formation of his new government, the state news agency WAM reported.

23 Dec 2022; MEMO: An Israeli citizen arrested in Abu Dhabi ten days ago on charges of assaulting police officers was granted release from custody after paying the court fine of 65,000 dirhams ($17,700).

It comes after the court decided against imprisonment and instead ordered 21-year-old Nachman Gabai to be deported from the country, reported the Times of Israel. He was held in custody until his family was able to pay the fine.

18 Dec 2022; MEMO: Former British Prime Minister David Cameron is to start a new job teaching politics at a university in the UAE according to a report on Friday by the Financial Times (FT).

12 Dec 2022; MEMO: Followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), also known as Mormons, are to have their own official place of worship in the Emirate of Dubai, a first of its kind in the Middle East.

DUBAI, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The Islamic Republic on Monday hanged a man in public who state media said had been convicted of killing two members of the security forces, the second execution in less than a week of people involved in protests against Iran's ruling theocracy.

Nationwide unrest erupted three months ago after the death while in detention of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by morality police enforcing the Islamic Republic's mandatory dress code laws.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran executed a second prisoner on Monday convicted over crimes committed during the nationwide protests challenging the country’s theocracy, publicly hanging him from a construction crane as a gruesome warning to others.

The execution of Majidreza Rahnavard came less than a month after he allegedly fatally stabbed two members of a paramilitary force after purportedly becoming angry about security forces killing of protesters.