Latest updates: Follow our full coverage on the UN General Assembly
The UN General Assembly's opening day was overshadowed on Tuesday by a seemingly imminent all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah and the apparent inability of the 193-member world body to do anything at all to stop it.
A string of leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian, lamented the state of world affairs, but none was able to articulate a convincing off-ramp from the apparent trajectory towards a broader regional war.
In his final address to the UN General Assembly before his term ends in January, Mr Biden said the world stands at an “inflection point” and expressed frustration that a months-long, US-led push for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has come to nothing, even as he suggested a diplomatic solution could still be found to prevent Israel going to war with Lebanon's Iran-backed militia Hezbollah.
“Even as the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible. In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security,” Mr Biden said in his speech in front of the UN chamber's famous green marble backdrop.
But as he was speaking, a swift resolution to the crisis appeared remote. Lebanese health authorities on Tuesday raised the death toll from two days of Israeli air strikes against Hezbollah to 564, as Israel's military vowed it would do “whatever is necessary” to push the militia away from the border.
This week's air strikes come after pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon last week, for which Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have blamed Israel.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: “We can't go on like this”.
“We are edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world,” he told the General Assembly.
While the wars in Sudan and Ukraine also drew considerable attention on Tuesday, time and again speakers returned to the situation in the Middle East and articulated their anger towards Israel, whose military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,400 people, local health officials say, in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks that killed about 1,200 people.
Israel, which drew an upswell of international support and sympathy after October 7, appeared increasingly isolated at the UN on Tuesday. The Israeli ambassador is scheduled to speak on Thursday.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised Israel's operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
“The right to self-defence became a right for vengeance, which prevents a deal for the release of hostages and delays a ceasefire,” he said.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II told the General Assembly that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza amounts to an attack on the UN, saying the presence of its flag has been unable to ensure protection for civilians from Israeli attacks.
“The Israeli government’s assault has resulted in one of the fastest death rates in recent conflicts, one of the fastest rates of starvation caused by war, the largest cohort of child amputees and unprecedented levels of destruction this Israeli government has killed more children, more journalists, more aid workers and more medical personnel than any other war in recent memory,” he said.
And Iran, which funds Hezbollah, Hamas, Yemen's Houthis and several other militias, accused Israel of “barbarism”.
“The international community must urgently intervene to establish a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and end Israel’s desperate barbarism in Lebanon before it engulfs the region and the world,” Mr Pezeshkian said. “Israel has been defeated in Gaza and no amount of barbaric violence can restore its myth of invincibility.”
Sheikh Tamim, the Emir of Qatar, told the UN General Assembly that Israel’s campaign in Gaza is "genocide".
“It is a crime of genocide by means of the most sophisticated weapons against the people besieged in a detention camp where there is no escape from the barrage of aerial bombing,” he said.
Mr Biden had sought to define his foreign policy legacy during his speech, highlighting his international leadership in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But history may remember him as the US leader who failed to stop a major Middle East conflagration.
Israel and Lebanon cross-border strikes – in pictures
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
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
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Brief scores:
Scotland 371-5, 50 overs (C MacLeod 140 no, K Coetzer 58, G Munsey 55)
England 365 all out, 48.5 overs (J Bairstow 105, A Hales 52; M Watt 3-55)
Result: Scotland won by six runs
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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