Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Iraq and Iran on Sunday called for immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, warning any further escalation would lead to a full-fledged war in the region with global implications.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after meeting his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Baghdad: "Our region is facing extremely dangerous challenges."
Mr Araghchi's visit to Iraq comes with the Middle East on high alert for further escalation as Israel battles Iran-backed groups Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, and is threatening to retaliate against Iran's recent missile attack. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel's response would be "lethal, precise and surprising".
"There is a possibility of escalation and conflicts," Mr Araghchi warned, with a likelihood the wars in Gaza and Lebanon would extend to other countries and lead to a "full-fledged war throughout the entire region".
"We are not afraid of war, we are ready for war, but at the same time we don’t want war, but peace," he said, and called for an end to Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon.
Iraq's Foreign Minister said continuing fighting "will lead to the destabilisation of security and peace in the entire region".
Mr Hussein assured Mr Araghchi Iraq would not allow its airspace to be used in any attack on Iran. "We in Iraq categorically reject using the Iraqi airspace as part of the war zone. We are trying to ward off the spectre of war from the region, especially Iraq," he said.
"War will affect navigation in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, and eventually will lead to a big international crisis in economy and energy."
Mr Araghchi arrived in Baghdad to continue “consultations with Muslim countries on critical situations in our region as the result of the Israeli regime’s genocidal attacks and aggressions in Gaza and Lebanon”, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on X earlier.
He was expected to also meet Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani.
Early this month, Iran launched a barrage of between 180 and 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, head of the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Israel said several airbases were hit but the attack appeared to do little damage to infrastructure, with military operations unaffected. Most of the missiles were intercepted by Israel's air defence systems and with the help of the US and other allies. Israel has threatened to retaliate, putting the region on edge.
In a post on X, Mr Araghchi also warned the US against posting military personnel in Israel following reports that Washington might send Israel batteries of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defence systems. The highly complex system would need to be operated by US forces.
“The US has been delivering record amount of arms to Israel,” he said. “It is now also putting lives of its troops at risk by deploying them to operate US missile systems in Israel. While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests.”
The US announced later on Sunday that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had authorised the deployment of a THAAD battery in Israel on the orders of President Joe Biden.
Baghdad is Mr Araghchi’s third stop in a tour of regional states after visiting Saudi Arabia and Qatar. He met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Wednesday, after which they called for an end to the wars in Gaza and Lebanon. He headed to Doha the following day and met Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Sources told The National that Tehran has sought the support of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other nations in the Middle East to de-escalate tension that could exacerbate the conflict in the region.
Diplomatic sources said Mr Araghchi's tour is aimed at “defending” Iran's position regarding the war with Israel. Part of his trip is aimed at seeking "political support" from key Gulf and Arab countries to "reach a ceasefire in Gaza and stop the war in Lebanon and prevent a wider war in the region", they said.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
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- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
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UAE v Scotland – no result
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Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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