As the 78th session of the UN General Assembly gets into its stride today, the organisation once considered an indispensable forum for global diplomacy finds itself having to reassert its leading role.
With more than 140 world leaders expected in New York City for the high-level debate at the General Assembly this week, the fact is the UN now exists at a time when an array of shifting and overlapping alliances reveals how many countries are pursuing new relationships and networks. The 15th summit of the Brics group of nations held in South Africa last month welcomed several important new members, and the G20 gathering in New Delhi shortly afterwards admitted an entire bloc of countries – the 55-member African Union. These developments are further proof that the world is becoming increasingly multipolar, and that countries are exploring new economic and political paths to stability, prosperity and development.
The UN, which is often accused of being overly bureaucratic and bogged down in procedural and political wrangling, must use this week’s high-profile gathering to prove that it can still unite countries, build consensus, help to resolve conflicts and champion issues of global justice. Sadly, this year’s convening is taking place amid levels of global distrust rarely seen in peacetime. We live in fraught times: China and the US are often at loggerheads, Russia is isolated from much of Europe and the West, and many developing countries accuse advanced industrial countries of failing to help them deal with climate change – a phenomenon worsened by the economic activities of the richer nations.
Nevertheless, there are several areas in which the UN can take action to assure its members that it can still be representative and effective. Redoubling efforts to reform the UN Security Council, possibly with expanded permanent membership – as US President Joe Biden suggested earlier this month – could help to resolve some of the stalemates frequently witnessed in this critical body. Too often, geopolitical tensions – such as the crisis in Syria and war in Ukraine – lead to an impasse as members wield their power of veto. A fresh look at these veto powers, as well as the transparency of the council’s deliberations, is important. Although such a process would be a challenging one, and consensus could take years to reach, the body is too important to go unexamined.
Revitalising work on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – 17 objectives to fight climate change, cut poverty and foster economic growth – is also vital, given that many countries are behind on their commitments. Concrete steps on global health care and climate finance would also go some way to making the developing world feel that its concerns are being taken seriously. On the last point, the UNGA also provides an opportunity to fine-tune policy and iron out differences before Cop28, the climate change summit to be held in the UAE later this year.
Other issues will have to be handled carefully. The Ukraine conflict, which has polarised world opinion, still takes up a large amount of diplomatic bandwidth, something that has vexed delegates from Latin America, Africa and Asia who have pressing concerns of their own. And the fact that four out of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council are choosing to skip this year’s General Assembly does not help to allay fears of a UN losing some of its relevance.
The UN can still be a major force for good in the world. Its role in negotiating the Black Sea grain deal is one example of the important role it can play as an arbiter and facilitator, even in the most trying circumstances. But the world is changing rapidly and the UN, if it wants to bring about the changes it says it champions, will have to follow suit.
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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.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
