During last week's 64th annual meeting of the UN General Assembly, New York has turned into a big Broadway theatre where a number of politicians put on their shows, especially the US president Barack Obama, wrote Abdul Rahman al Rashed, a regular contributor to the opinion section of the pan-Arab daily Asharq al Awsat.
Mr Obama has moderated the UN Security Council session "like a teacher in a classroom", preaching global nuclear arms disarmament to nuclear powers.
The other star of this year's UN show was the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He practically granted every American television channel an interview or two and opened his Intercontinental Hotel suite for more journalists than diplomats. This, of course, confirms the Iranian president's care to restore his public image following last June's controversy over the presidential elections.
Another official who tried to embellish his image was the UN secretary general himself, Ban Ki-moon. The man spared no effort trying to convince the world that he is more dynamic, independent and efficient than people are led to think.
All these acts have sidetracked public attention from the many concurrent developments related to terrorist activity within the US.
Fuelled by last Friday's revelation of a new uranium enrichment facility in Qom, Iran's nuclear crisis is taking on a whole new dimension, with inevitable repercussions on the political situation in Lebanon, considering Hizbollah's strong alliance with Tehran, wrote Ali Hamade in the comment section of the Lebanese daily Annahar.
How would Hizbollah handle eventual tougher sanctions on Iran, or, even worse, a military intervention? That is the pivotal question that the Lebanese president must discuss with Hizbollah's leadership and the prime minister-designate, Saad al Hariri, before a cabinet is formed.
A potential Israeli strike against Tehran is, indeed, feared by the Lebanese people, not that they are worried about Iran, but because they dread Hizbollah's military involvement in retaliation.
"The nature of Hizbollah's ties with Iran make Tehran's policies and decisions a full-fledged Lebanese matter."
There is no longer room for the ethnic quota system traditionally adopted in the process of forming the Lebanese cabinet. Meanwhile, the newly returned "warmth" in the Saudi-Syrian relations - after the Syrian president visited Jeddah last Wednesday to attend the inauguration of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology - may help deliver a decent Lebanese government sooner than expected.
Despite the media criticism that Col Muammar Qadafi received for his speech at the UN General Assembly last Wednesday, the Libyan leader did not actually utter any insanities, commented Ahmed Kamal in the Bahraini daily Al Ayam.
"Everything he said was based on facts," the writer claimed. He criticised the Security Council for its "excessive" and "absurdly unjust" policies towards third world countries. He was right to say that the resolutions of the UN General Assembly regarding world issues must gain precedence over the Security Council's interference.
Mr Qadafi argued that unrestrained use of veto power by the Security Council permanent member states dilutes the credibility of the United Nations as a whole. He also called for multibillion dollar compensation for all the peoples who have suffered under the boot of decades-long colonialism.
"Indeed, many of his accusatory comments hit the nail right on the head and stressed legitimate grievances against the Security Council's systematic reversal of many resolutions in favour of third-world countries, especially the Palestinian cause."
The United States has used its veto power more than any other country, casually overruling decisions that most of the world approved. It only stands to reason that the UN charter, which Mr Qadafi tore up during his speech, be revised.
Finally, and after so many failed attempts, the Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, better known as the G20, has taken the first steps on a reform path that the global crunch has made irreversible, noted the Dubai-based daily newspaper Al Bayan in its main leader.
This new drive for change has an important aspect: it lays the first brick in the wall of a "new world order" that takes into account the specifics of the current historical juncture.
"Obviously, some of those steps taken are still too slow in pace and limited in scope so that they might be expendable if the heat of the crisis happens to cool off sooner than expected."
Actually, none of the decisions taken at the G20's summit in Pittsburgh, whether regarding reduction of carbon emissions to counter climate change or a new, more prudent financial system, are binding, which again prove the modesty of the body's efforts.
The summit has maintained government support as a safety valve protecting a slow financial convalescence. Having become a sort of supervisory commission on the world economy, pledging "a more balanced global growth," the G20 must now be held accountable for its policies and promises.
* Digest compiled by Achraf A ElBahi
aelbahi@thenational.ae
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Company%20profile
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Real estate tokenisation project
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.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
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