Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The UN’s Human Rights Council heard pleas from the Arab world for Israel to rein in its offensive in Gaza on Monday, in the latest diplomatic push to ease the Middle East crisis.
Regional diplomats, senior UN officials and European ministers bemoaned what inspectors called the “appalling humanitarian crisis” in Gaza in speeches to the council in Geneva.
Diplomats urged Israel to abide by human rights norms as they pile pressure on its government to lessen civilian casualties, allow more aid into Gaza and refrain from attacking the besieged city of Rafah.
“Around the world, warring parties claim exemptions, asserting that certain people or situations are uniquely dangerous,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who spoke of collective punishment being inflicted in Gaza.
“But flouting international law only feeds insecurity and results in more bloodshed.”
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan urged countries to work on a “clear-cut, legitimate peace process” to stop Palestinians being “subjected to the worst violations of human rights”.
“We should dissipate doubts about the right of Palestinians to live in security and their right to self-determination through a legitimate process that is irreversible for them to have their independent state,” he said.
“We call upon all countries to adhere to the principles of peace and justice and to work together to end what we can call collective punishment and its serious ramifications.”
With Israel’s conduct already being closely watched in The Hague, it faces further scrutiny in Geneva as the human rights body begins a packed month-long session dominated by the war.
Israel denies allegations of genocide and war crimes, saying it is carrying out an anti-Hamas campaign after the violent attack by Gaza’s ruling militants on October 7 last year.
But concern is growing, even among Israel’s allies, at the fallout from its offensive, with a new UN report saying the human rights situation had “drastically worsened” in Palestinian territory.
“This session is taking place at a time where the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Palestine, namely in Gaza, goes from bad to worse,” Libya’s acting Foreign Minister Eltaher Salem Elbaour told the meeting’s opening session.
Israel “pays no heed the insistence of the international community and continues to act above the law”, he said.
International pressure
Middle East ministers called on the international community to use its influence to push Israel into a ceasefire and pave the way for a long-term peace process.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said security could not prevail in the Middle East “until all rights of the Palestinian people are restored”. He said these rights were currently being “trampled on” by Israel.
“We must condemn the occupation and bring to bear international law against the government that denies the Palestinian people the right to freedom,” Mr Safadi said.
Judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague last month ordered Israel to do everything in its power to prevent a genocide in Gaza. While that ruling is legally binding, the court has no way of forcing Israel to change course.
The political pressure on Israel is coming from allies as well as long-standing critics, with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock telling the council Gaza’s humanitarian plight was “simply catastrophic”.
“Civilians must be protected, more aid must get through to the people of Gaza … because human rights are universal, because a life is a life, in Tel Aviv, in Rafah,” she said.
Ms Baerbock also urged Hamas to release hostages.
A UN motion calling for a ceasefire was vetoed by the US last week, with differences in the Security Council once again hobbling its ability to act after Russia had similarly blocked resolutions on Ukraine.
The council’s lack of unity on Gaza and Ukraine “has severely, perhaps fatally undermined its authority”, said Mr Guterres, who invoked a rarely used power known as Article 99 in a failed bid to spur the world body into action.
He said “nothing can justify” either Hamas’s actions in killing and kidnapping civilians and firing rockets on October 7, or what he called the “collective punishment of the Palestinian people” in response.
Any offensive in Rafah would “not only be terrifying for more than 1 million Palestinian civilians sheltering there, it would put the final nail in the coffin of our aid programmes”, he said.
Iran, meanwhile, used its speech to the council to allege double standards at the UN, claiming the plight of Palestinian women and girls was garnering less attention than a young woman’s death in police custody in Tehran in 2022.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Iran "would not forget what cries were raised in this place" after the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, led to protests, a crackdown on dissent and a UN fact-finding mission.
"Today, no meaningful action is taken by the UN system in response to the mass killing of thousands of women and girls in Gaza," Mr Amirabdollahian claimed.
"It is only another instance of instrumentalisation of human rights mechanisms for political purposes."
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
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May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
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May 20, final
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Australia
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South Korea
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
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