Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The US on Tuesday said it supported Israel’s “sovereign” decision to shut down the offices of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel had told the Security Council it would cut all contact with UN Relief and Works Agency within 48 hours and enforce the closure of the agency’s offices in areas that it considers to be under its control. Israel has called for UNRWA's responsibilities to be transferred to other agencies.
“UNRWA is exaggerating the effects of the laws and suggesting that they will force the entire humanitarian response to halt is irresponsible and dangerous,” Dorothy Shea, US deputy representative to the UN, told the Security Council. “What is needed is a nuanced discussion about how we can ensure that there is no interruption in the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services.”
“UNRWA is not and never has been the only option for providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza,” she added.
UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini warned that attempts to dismantle the agency through the Knesset's legislation and suspending donors' funding would have far-reaching consequences, destabilising the region and undermining prospects for peace.
“The right of Palestinian refugees to protection and assistance are not derived from [the] UNRWA mandate, they exist independently of the agency,” Mr Lazzarini said. "And if one ceases to protect and assist Palestinian refugees, their rights will not only remain but there will be much greater emphasis on the right to return or to be resettled, for which UNRWA has no mandate."
Mr Lazzarini criticised the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, for calling for public celebrations over UNRWA’s potential removal, noting that Israeli authorities plan to “build illegal settlements” on the land near the agency’s East Jerusalem office in Sheikh Jarrah.
The Israeli government has repeatedly accused UNRWA staff of affiliation to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, responsible for the deadly attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, which prompted the Gaza war.
Palestine's UN envoy Riyad Mansour on Tuesday slammed Israel's long-standing attacks on UNRWA, accusing it of trying to eliminate the Palestinian refugee issue. "Israel has been attacking UNRWA long before October 7 and at that time it did not try to conceal its objectives," he said. "It wanted to end the refugee problem, to erase rights that cannot be erased, that are inalienable."
Mr Mansour warned that Israel's tactics of destroying and impoverishing Palestinian communities would never lead to peace. "If you think that by destroying, displacing and impoverishing communities you will have peace, you are terribly mistaken.”
He further criticised Israel's actions in Gaza and its policies towards the Palestinian people. "Israel, that destroyed Gaza and openly aims at getting rid of the Palestinian people, does not get to pick and choose who represents the Palestinian people or who represents the UN," he told Security Council members. "It does not get to distort the law and the narrative. It does not get to claim some sort of exceptional status that allows it to commit crimes and enjoy impunity. The problem is not the rules but their breach."
Before a UN Security Council meeting on UNRWA, Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon said his country would terminate all collaboration, communication and contact with the agency and any other body acting on its behalf. Mr Danon did not specify any alternatives to replace the activities of UNRWA.
"In 48 hours time, as this legislation comes into effect, we will stand at a turning point: the closure of UNRWA operations in Israel. It marks the beginning of a new chapter, one focused on dignity, security and progress. It is a moment to move beyond the failures of the past and to forge a path toward a better future for all," he said.
In a strongly worded letter, UN chief Antonio Guterres demanded Israel "retract" its order for UNRWA to leave Jerusalem and rejected Israel's claims of sovereignty over East Jerusalem where UNRWA maintains an office.
Slovenia's deputy ambassador Ondina Blokar Drobic criticised the Israeli legislation for undermining the ceasefire agreement and failing to provide an alternative.
"In the event that UNRWA is compelled to cease its activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, Israel would be left to ensure that the range of services and assistance which UNRWA has been providing are provided. Regrettably, we have not heard any such assurances from the Israeli government," she said.
UNRWA, established in 1949, has long provided essential services, including schools and clinics, to tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem and beyond. The refugees, many of whom lack nationality, rely on the agency for education, health care and other critical support. East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel since the 1967 war, is home to a significant Palestinian population and remains a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
The currency conundrum
Russ Mould, investment director at online trading platform AJ Bell, says almost every major currency has challenges right now. “The US has a huge budget deficit, the euro faces political friction and poor growth, sterling is bogged down by Brexit, China’s renminbi is hit by debt fears while slowing Chinese growth is hurting commodity exporters like Australia and Canada.”
Most countries now actively want a weak currency to make their exports more competitive. “China seems happy to let the renminbi drift lower, the Swiss are still running quantitative easing at full tilt and central bankers everywhere are actively talking down their currencies or offering only limited support," says Mr Mould.
This is a race to the bottom, and everybody wants to be a winner.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Results
5pm: Al Falah – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bshara, Richard Mullen (jockey), Salem Al Ketbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Al Dhafra – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Mualami, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Al Khaleej Al Arabi – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hawafez, Adrie de Vries, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Mafraq – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
7.30pm: Al Samha – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Patrick Cosgrave, Ismail Mohammed
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
And%20Just%20Like%20That...
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More from Neighbourhood Watch
Results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.
4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
