Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, meets Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Doha, Qatar. Reuters
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, meets Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Doha, Qatar. Reuters
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, meets Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Doha, Qatar. Reuters
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, meets Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Doha, Qatar. Reuters

Iran's President Pezeshkian meets Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal amid fears of regional escalation


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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Doha amid mounting fears of regional escalation following Iran's massive missile attack on Israel.

The two leaders discussed the latest regional and international developments in their meeting late on Wednesday in Qatar's capital, the official Saudi Press Agency said, without giving details.

Saudi Arabia and Iran, among the region's powerhouses, restored diplomatic ties in March last year, ending a seven-year rift. Their rapprochement has opened the door to top-level contact but caution remains a defining characteristic of their relations.

The meeting in Doha came a day after Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles on Israel to avenge the killing on Friday of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah – Iran's main regional proxy – and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier this year.

Israel-Gaza war one year on – in pictures

  • Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes targeted Palestine Tower in Gaza city on October 7, 2023. EPA
    Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes targeted Palestine Tower in Gaza city on October 7, 2023. EPA
  • Palestinians take control of an Israeli Merkava battle tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. AFP
    Palestinians take control of an Israeli Merkava battle tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. AFP
  • This video grab from footage released by the Israeli Hostage and Missing Families Forum campaign group on May 22 shows what the group described as Israeli female soldiers being captured by Palestinian Hamas militants during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. AFP
    This video grab from footage released by the Israeli Hostage and Missing Families Forum campaign group on May 22 shows what the group described as Israeli female soldiers being captured by Palestinian Hamas militants during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. AFP
  • Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in Gaza city on October 9, 2023. EPA
    Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in Gaza city on October 9, 2023. EPA
  • A rocket is launched from the coastal Gaza strip towards Israel by militants of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam militia, the military wing of Hamas movement, in Gaza city. EPA
    A rocket is launched from the coastal Gaza strip towards Israel by militants of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam militia, the military wing of Hamas movement, in Gaza city. EPA
  • Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, on October 9, 2023. Reuters
    Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, on October 9, 2023. Reuters
  • Lightning strikes as smoke billows following an Israeli air strike in Gaza city on October 9, 2023. AFP
    Lightning strikes as smoke billows following an Israeli air strike in Gaza city on October 9, 2023. AFP
  • An Israeli artillery unit fires at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, on October 11, 2023. EPA
    An Israeli artillery unit fires at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, on October 11, 2023. EPA
  • Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people carry their belongings before boarding a ship for US nationals and their immediate family members, as they leave Israel headed for Cyprus. Reuters
    Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people carry their belongings before boarding a ship for US nationals and their immediate family members, as they leave Israel headed for Cyprus. Reuters
  • Palestinian youths take cover behind a rubbish container as they clash with Israeli forces at the northern entrance of the West Bank city of Ramallah near the Israeli settlement of Beit El on October 20, 2023. AFP
    Palestinian youths take cover behind a rubbish container as they clash with Israeli forces at the northern entrance of the West Bank city of Ramallah near the Israeli settlement of Beit El on October 20, 2023. AFP
  • A man mourns as he attends a funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 24, 2023. Reuters
    A man mourns as he attends a funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 24, 2023. Reuters
  • A man holds a child, survivors of Israeli bombardment, as they are treated at a trauma ward at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 24, 2023. AFP
    A man holds a child, survivors of Israeli bombardment, as they are treated at a trauma ward at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 24, 2023. AFP
  • People search for survivors and the bodies of victims through the rubble of buildings destroyed during Israeli bombardment in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 26, 2023. AFP
    People search for survivors and the bodies of victims through the rubble of buildings destroyed during Israeli bombardment in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 26, 2023. AFP
  • Anti-war protesters raise their 'bloody' hands behind US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Biden's $106 billion national security supplemental funding request to support Israel and Ukraine, as well as bolster border security, on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 31, 2023. Reuters
    Anti-war protesters raise their 'bloody' hands behind US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Biden's $106 billion national security supplemental funding request to support Israel and Ukraine, as well as bolster border security, on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 31, 2023. Reuters
  • Palestinians run for cover after a strike near the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city on November 1, 2023. AFP
    Palestinians run for cover after a strike near the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city on November 1, 2023. AFP
  • Palestinian children run as they flee from Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on November 6, 2023. AFP
    Palestinian children run as they flee from Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on November 6, 2023. AFP
  • An injured Palestinian woman covered in dust and blood hugs an injured girl child at the hospital following the Israeli bombardment of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on November 15, 2023. AFP
    An injured Palestinian woman covered in dust and blood hugs an injured girl child at the hospital following the Israeli bombardment of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on November 15, 2023. AFP
  • Hostages released by Hamas Gal, left, and Tal Almog-Goldstein, second left, stand in a bus transporting them to an army base in Ofakim in southern Israel after they were released by the Palestinian militant group from the Gaza Strip on November 26, 2023. AFP
    Hostages released by Hamas Gal, left, and Tal Almog-Goldstein, second left, stand in a bus transporting them to an army base in Ofakim in southern Israel after they were released by the Palestinian militant group from the Gaza Strip on November 26, 2023. AFP
  • Palestinian boys stand in their makeshift tent at a camp set up on a schoolyard in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip where most civilians have taken refuge, on December 13, 2023. AFP
    Palestinian boys stand in their makeshift tent at a camp set up on a schoolyard in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip where most civilians have taken refuge, on December 13, 2023. AFP
  • Palestinians fleeing the north through the Salaheddin road in the Zeitoun district on the southern outskirts of Gaza city, walk past Israeli army tanks on November 24, 2023. AFP
    Palestinians fleeing the north through the Salaheddin road in the Zeitoun district on the southern outskirts of Gaza city, walk past Israeli army tanks on November 24, 2023. AFP
  • In this picture taken during a media tour organised by the Israeli military on December 15, 2023, soldiers visit a tunnel that Hamas reportedly used to attack Israel through the Erez border crossing on October 7. AFP
    In this picture taken during a media tour organised by the Israeli military on December 15, 2023, soldiers visit a tunnel that Hamas reportedly used to attack Israel through the Erez border crossing on October 7. AFP
  • Jewish protesters block the passage of aid trucks being sent to Gaza in Ashdod, Israel on February 1, 2024. Reuters
    Jewish protesters block the passage of aid trucks being sent to Gaza in Ashdod, Israel on February 1, 2024. Reuters
  • A man pulls water containers as he walks past destroyed buildings in Khan Younis on May 5, 2024. AFP
    A man pulls water containers as he walks past destroyed buildings in Khan Younis on May 5, 2024. AFP
  • Relatives of Hanan Yablonka, one of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants, mourn during his funeral in Tel Aviv on May 26. AFP
    Relatives of Hanan Yablonka, one of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants, mourn during his funeral in Tel Aviv on May 26. AFP
  • Humanitarian aid packages land after being dropped from a plane in Al Mawasi district of Khan Younis, on May 30, 2024. Reuters
    Humanitarian aid packages land after being dropped from a plane in Al Mawasi district of Khan Younis, on May 30, 2024. Reuters
  • Palestinians attend Eid al-Adha prayer in Khan Younis town, southern Gaza strip, on June 16. EPA
    Palestinians attend Eid al-Adha prayer in Khan Younis town, southern Gaza strip, on June 16. EPA
  • Displaced Palestinians play football in Jabalia on July 23, 2024. AFP
    Displaced Palestinians play football in Jabalia on July 23, 2024. AFP
  • Palestinians injured in an Israeli strike on a school ride on the back of a cart in Deir Al Balah on July 27, 2024. AFP
    Palestinians injured in an Israeli strike on a school ride on the back of a cart in Deir Al Balah on July 27, 2024. AFP
  • Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in the northern Gaza Strip, September 11. Reuters
    Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in the northern Gaza Strip, September 11. Reuters
  • Palestinians survey the damage at the site of Israeli strikes on a displacement camp in Khan Younis on September 10, 2024. AFP
    Palestinians survey the damage at the site of Israeli strikes on a displacement camp in Khan Younis on September 10, 2024. AFP
  • A medical staff member carries supplies through a destroyed section of Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city on September 17. AFP
    A medical staff member carries supplies through a destroyed section of Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city on September 17. AFP
  • People walk past makeshift graves in Gaza city on September 17. AFP
    People walk past makeshift graves in Gaza city on September 17. AFP

Israel and its main backer the US have vowed to hit back hard to avenge Tuesday's attack, but Iran said on Wednesday its missile volley – its biggest assault on Israel – was over, barring further provocation.

Sources briefed on diplomatic efforts to defuse tension in the region said Saudi Arabia was searching for ways to prevent a major escalation in the Middle East that could spiral out of control.

Tension in the Middle East and fears of a wider conflict have escalated since the war between Hamas and Israel began nearly a year ago. Iran's proxies in the region, including Yemen's Houthis and armed Shiite groups in Iraq – have attacked Israel in efforts to stop its bombardment of Gaza that has killed about 41,700 people.

Hezbollah's daily exchange of cross-border fire with Israel has inched closer to a full-fledged war over the past fortnight, with Israel carrying out a ground invasion in Lebanon this week, and significantly stepping up air strikes, mostly in southern Lebanon, the group's stronghold, and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, meets Sheikh Tamim, Emir of Qatar, at Lusail Palace in Doha. AFP
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, meets Sheikh Tamim, Emir of Qatar, at Lusail Palace in Doha. AFP

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim said on Wednesday that Doha will continue mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza. In a joint press conference with the Iranian President, he said: “The recent surge of conflict in Lebanon is what we have been warning against since the beginning of Israeli aggression.” Israel, he added, must “cease its unjust war in Gaza, and the West Bank and its aggression on Lebanon”.

Mr Pezeshkian warned at the news conference that if Israel acts against Iran, then Tehran will respond in a more severe way. “We are not in pursuit of war with Israel,” he said. “They promised us peace. But Israel has terrorised our guests in Tehran during our presidential inauguration. We want to establish peace. If you disagree, peace will not be established.”

Tips for used car buyers
  • Choose cars with GCC specifications
  • Get a service history for cars less than five years old
  • Don’t go cheap on the inspection
  • Check for oil leaks
  • Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
  • Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
  • Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
  • Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
  • If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell

Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com

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How Apple's credit card works

The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.

What does it cost?

Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.

What will the interest rate be?

The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts

What about security? 

The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.

Is it easy to use?

Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision. 

* Associated Press 

Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.

5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs

B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

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Updated: October 03, 2024, 11:27 AM