Spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition Colonel Turki Al Maliki during a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AFP
Spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition Colonel Turki Al Maliki during a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AFP
Spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition Colonel Turki Al Maliki during a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AFP
Spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition Colonel Turki Al Maliki during a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AFP

Arab Coalition says evidence points to use of Iranian arms in oil attacks


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Preliminary findings show the weapons used to strike Saudi oil plants were made by Iran, the Arab Coalition said on Monday.

The statement came hours after Iran claimed it had seized another vessel and its crew near the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said later on Monday evening that the initial investigation into Saturday's strikes had indicated Iranian weapons were involved.

"The kingdom condemns this egregious crime, which threatens international peace and security, and affirms that the primary target of this attack are global energy supplies, as it is in line with the previous attacks against Saudi Aramco pumping stations using Iranian weapons," the ministry said.

Coalition spokesman Col Turki Al Malki said the investigation was continuing into the launch site of the attacks, which had been claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

"The preliminary results show that the weapons are Iranian and we are currently working to determine the location," Col Al Malki said in Riyadh.

"The terrorist attack did not originate from Yemen as the Houthi militia claimed."

The explosions, which took place on Saturday, set off fires that engulfed the Abqaiq plant, the world's largest oil processing plant, and nearby Khurais, which has a massive oilfield.

Col Al Malki said authorities would reveal the location from which the drones were launched at a future briefing.

Meanwhile, Iran seized another vessel and its crew near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars reported.

It said the vessel was carrying "smuggled diesel" and that its crew of 11 had been arrested.

"The ship, called Linch, sailed from the port of Lankah and was heading towards the UAE," an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval commander told the agency.

"It was stopped about 20 miles [30 kilometres] east of the island of Tunb."

The islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, a few kilometres off the UAE coastline, are regarded as strategically important points in the Strait of Hormuz, and were seized by Iran in 1971 on the eve of the UAE's formation.

If the ship seizure is confirmed, it would represent the latest move by Iran to hamper navigation in the waterway, one of the most vital routes for global energy supplies.

The US has blamed Iran for a series of attacks on oil tankers. Iran has seized at least one British-flagged tanker and approached another.

Washington withdrew from a nuclear deal signed between Iran and world powers in 2015.

It imposed two rounds of crippling sanctions on the Iranian economy to disrupt its malign activity across the Middle East.

Iran has proxies operating in Lebanon, Yemen, the Gaza Strip and Syria.

State television broadcast footage from the deck of a trawler-sized vessel with open hatches showing tanks full of what appeared to be fuel.

It is the second such seizure this month, after a boat Iran claimed was smuggling fuel was detained and its 12 Filipino crew members arrested in the Strait of Hormuz on September 7.

US officials earlier indicated that Iran was behind the weekend attacks. Iran denied any responsibility.

US officials released satellite images of the damage at the heart of the kingdom's crucial Abqaiq oil processing plant and Khuraisa oilfield.

They claimed the pattern of destruction suggested Saturday's attack came from either Iraq or Iran, rather than Yemen.

In a tweet before the coalition’s announcement, US President Donald Trump said his country was primed to respond after the attacks that threatened global oil supplies.

“There is reason to believe that we know the culprit," Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday.

"We are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed.”

Earlier on Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Tehran of carrying out the strikes, saying there was “no evidence” the drones had come from Yemen.

China on Monday urged the US and Iran to exercise restraint, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying saying it was not responsible to accuse others "in the absence of a conclusive investigation or verdict".

India and Britain condemned the attacks without apportioning blame.

A US official said there were 19 points of impact in the attack on the Saudi plants, and that evidence showed the launch area was west-north-west of the targets, not south from Yemen.

Iraq denied on Sunday that its territory had been used to carry out the attacks. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi received a call from Mr Pompeo on Monday, but his office did not specify what was discussed.

Saudi Aramco said the production of 5.7 million barrels of crude a day had been suspended after the attack but that work was under way to restore production.

A spokesman for the Houthi rebels, Yahia Sarie, said 10 drones had attacked the Aramco plants and more strikes were to be expected.

Mr Trump authorised the release of oil from the US's emergency oil reserves after the attacks knocked out half of the kingdom’s crude output.

In tweets, the president said the amount of oil released would be “sufficient to keep the markets well supplied”. He later said: “Plenty of oil.”

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed expressed the UAE’s solidarity with the kingdom in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces reaffirmed the country’s support for all of the measures taken by the kingdom to ensure the security and safety of its citizens, and all of those living on its soil.

“UAE and Saudi Arabia are standing as partners in facing besetting challenges. Our shared goals are the security of our nations," Sheikh Mohamed said in comments reported by Wam.

Satellite image from Planet Labs Inc. shows thick black smoke rising from Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq oil processing facility in Buqyaq. Planet Labs Inc via AP, File
Satellite image from Planet Labs Inc. shows thick black smoke rising from Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq oil processing facility in Buqyaq. Planet Labs Inc via AP, File

Mr Trump called Prince Mohammed on Saturday to affirm his country’s "readiness to co-operate with the kingdom by all means to maintain its security and stability", the Saudi Press Agency reported.

As tension continues to rise between Washington and Tehran, Mr Trump has left open the possibility of meeting Iranian President Hassan Rounani.

But Iran on Monday ruled out any hope of that happening at the UN General Assembly in New York next week.

"Neither is such an event on our agenda, nor will it happen. Such a meeting will not take place," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said. Tehran has repeatedly rejected such a meeting.

Mr Mousavi rejected as "nonsense" remarks by the Republican Senator Lindsey Graham that it was time for the US "to put on the table an attack on Iranian oil refineries".

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March 15 - Australia, Melbourne; March 22 - Bahrain, Sakhir; April 5 - Vietnam, Hanoi; April 19 - China, Shanghai; May 3 - Netherlands, Zandvoort; May 20 - Spain, Barcelona; May 24 - Monaco, Monaco; June 7 - Azerbaijan, Baku; June 14 - Canada, Montreal; June 28 - France, Le Castellet; July 5 - Austria, Spielberg; July 19 - Great Britain, Silverstone; August 2 - Hungary, Budapest; August 30 - Belgium, Spa; September 6 - Italy, Monza; September 20 - Singapore, Singapore; September 27 - Russia, Sochi; October 11 - Japan, Suzuka; October 25 - United States, Austin; November 1 - Mexico City, Mexico City; November 15 - Brazil, Sao Paulo; November 29 - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

US tops drug cost charts

The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.

Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.

In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.

Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol. 

The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.

High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.

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Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

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Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

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Match info

Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335

Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs

Results

2pm: Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).

2.30pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m; Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.

3pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

3.30pm: Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m; Winner: Thegreatcollection, Adrie de Vries, Doug Watson.

4pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Oktalgano, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.30pm: Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m; Winner: Madame Ellingtina, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

5pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Mystery Land, Fabrice Veron, Helal Al Alawi.

5.30pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m; Winner: Shanaghai City, Jesus Rosales, Rashed Bouresly.

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Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.

Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.

Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.

When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

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Scoreline

Swansea 2

Grimes 20' (pen), Celina, 29'

Man City 3

Silva 69', Nordfeldt 78' (og), Aguero 88'

FIGHT CARD

Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)

Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)

Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)

Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)

Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)

Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)

Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)

Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)

Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)

Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
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  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
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  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less