Dozens of world leaders are set to descend on New York for the 80th UN General Assembly, convening under a cloud of geopolitical upheaval. Diplomats are already bracing for Gaza to dominate the agenda, while momentous changes in Syria and Israel's strikes against Iran and other countries will also loom large.
A French-Saudi conference on the two-state solution will be held on Monday and is expected to result in France, the UK and other nations formalising their recognition of Palestine. Last week, 142 countries in the UN General Assembly endorsed a French and Saudi road map for Palestinian statehood, despite Israeli and US objections.
The war, started by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on southern Israel, has dragged on for almost two years with no end in sight.
Israel’s continuing offensive has destroyed much of the Gaza Strip and left more than 65,000 dead. The conflict has fuelled global outrage. Yet despite countless Security Council debates, resolutions and mediation, the UN has failed to secure a ceasefire.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not attend the UNGA in person after the US refused him a visa, sparking sharp criticism at the UN. Mr Abbas is expected to address the two-state summit and deliver his speech on Thursday next week by video link.
When asked by The National whether he agreed with US and Israeli assessments that the growing number of states recognising Palestine was a “gift to Hamas”, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: “The two-state solution is not something that is in Hamas's programme. It is a gift to the Palestinian people that have suffered also a lot, also because of Hamas.”
Some diplomats stressed that the real priority should be what happens after the war ends, finding a concrete path towards a two-state solution, and cautioned against seeing the recognition conference as a final outcome rather than a step in the process.
Without enforcement, it was at risk of being another paper declaration, said one UN diplomat.
“A lot of focus will be on the day after and what is needed, not only to get to the two-state solution but also how it's managed.”
There will also be last-minute diplomacy in the hallways of the world body over Iran's nuclear programme, as it seeks to avoid a return of all UN Security Council sanctions on September 28.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are both expected to attend the UNGA, which comes months after the US and Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets.
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu is set to arrive in New York on Thursday and deliver his address to the General Assembly on Friday before heading to Washington on Sunday.
Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon told reporters on Thursday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be meeting Syria’s new leader Ahmad Al Shara during next week’s UN gathering, though he confirmed that talks regarding security are under way with Damascus.
“It will be interesting to hear the words of the new president of Syria when he comes to town next week, to hear his words about the future of the region,” he added.
Trump returns to the UN stage
US President Donald Trump’s return to the UN is also set to dominate this year’s high-level week in New York. While he has called the world body a place of “great potential”, he is expected to use his speech to press Mr Guterres to act more forcefully in quelling conflicts, defending state sovereignty and protecting free expression.
During his second term, Mr Trump has pulled the US out of Unesco, halted funding to the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, frozen ties with the Human Rights Council, and moved to withdraw from the Paris climate pact and the World Health Organisation.
Those decisions have deepened humanitarian strains worldwide and raised questions over the UN’s future, pushing Mr Guterres to pursue cost-cutting and efficiency.
Mike Waltz, Mr Trump's nominee for US ambassador to the UN, still has not been confirmed by the Senate and it is unclear whether he will be before the General Assembly gets going.
Washington’s temporary UN envoy Dorothy Shea outlined US priorities before the assembly, calling for “transparent, accountable and results-driven” peacekeeping operations, with measurable progress and tighter budget controls.
Ms Shea warned that the US “will not tolerate efforts to suppress these freedoms whether through censorship, internet shutdowns or silencing political opposition”.
Mr Trump is due to deliver his General Assembly address on the morning of September 23, followed by a bilateral meeting with Mr Guterres.
A crisis of relevance
Beyond the Gaza war and Mr Trump’s showmanship lies a deeper question: where is the UN headed at 80?
Diplomats said a worsening “liquidity crisis” hangs over the General Assembly, the result of member states failing to pay their dues on time or in full.
As part of his UN80 initiative, Mr Guterres has proposed a 15 per cent cut to the regular budget starting in 2026, reducing it to $3.238 billion and eliminating 2,681 posts at the world body.
The cuts would affect all three pillars of the UN’s work: peace and security; human rights; and sustainable development – although programmes for the least developed countries would be protected.
Meanwhile, the UN’s humanitarian agencies are under immense strain. Funding is drying up as climate disasters multiply, refugee numbers reach historic highs, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals slip further out of reach.
The General Assembly is expected to vote on the budget plan before the end of the year.
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
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
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
