Visitors and delegates gather at the UN headquarters during the General Assembly of the United Nations in Manhattan, New York. Reuters
Visitors and delegates gather at the UN headquarters during the General Assembly of the United Nations in Manhattan, New York. Reuters

Five talking points ahead of Thursday's UN General Assembly General Debate



1. Palestine and Israel speak after Trump's two-state commitment

Both Palestinian President Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will address the assembly today. Yesterday, US President Trump said he would like a two-state solution.

2. Global Meeting on Non-communicable diseases

The meeting will aim at implementing an investment of $1.27 annually per person in the prevention of diseases - those not caused by infectious agents such as strokes, cancers and diabetes - which could save 8 million lives.

3. The UN Security Council reconvenes to discuss North Korea

The UN Security Council discussion on non-proliferation continues with a focus on North Korea and the outcomes from this year's Singapore summit.

4. Carbon Neutrality Coalition launch

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern convenes an inaugural high-level meeting on the Carbon Neutrality Coalition. The event will look to build climate-resilient economies.

5. Unleashing the potential of Islamic finance

The Government of Malaysia and the Islamic Development Bank host a high-level event to discuss how to finance the UN's sustainable development goals and engage investors using Islamic finance instruments.

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Read more:

UN General Assembly 2018 schedule

UN postcard: Could the two-state solution get a new lease of life?

West wrangles with Russia and Iran over Syria reconstruction

Palestinians welcome Trump's endorsement of two-state solution

Yemen President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi calls on world to stop Iran's interference

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Schedule for Thursday, September 27

Morning

Lithuania

Botswana

Cyprus

Chile

Macedonia

Equatorial Guinea

Haiti

Sierra Leone

Palestine

European Union

Belgium

Israel

Malta

Georgia

Vietnam

Jamaica

New Zealand

Saint Vincent and Grenadines

Afternoon

Micronesia

Guinea-Bissau

Comoros

Madagascar

Indonesia

Cote d'Ivoire

Costa Rica

Nepal

Tuvalu

Bangladesh

Spain

Serbia

Uganda

Bhutan

Mauritania

Liechtenstein

Cameroon

Tanzania

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

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million