French envoy blasts UN for not denouncing October 7 Hamas attacks

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France’s top UN envoy, Nicolas de Riviere, on Tuesday criticised the Security Council and General Assembly for their failure to denounce the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas and other groups.

“It is unacceptable that the Security Council and the General Assembly have not yet been able to condemn the terrorist acts perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist groups, on October 7,” Mr de Riviere told the Assembly.

He repeated France’s “unwavering commitment” to Israel's security but said that this does not absolve Israel from the responsibility of adhering to international law.

“Israeli operations [in Gaza] must cease,” Mr de Riviere stressed.

The Gaza crisis, he noted, requires the Security Council to be able to “express clear demands on all aspects of the crisis: humanitarian, security and political”.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas-led militants stormed across its southern border, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others, according to Israeli authorities.

More than 100 hostages were released last year in exchange for 240 Palestinians jailed by Israel.

In response, Israel's assaults on Gaza have killed more than 30,600, mainly civilians, local health authorities say.

The nearly five months of fighting has left much of Gaza in ruins and created a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, with many, especially in the devastated northern region, facing starvation.

South Africa’s ambassador to the UN Mathu Joyini asked at what point certain nations in the 193-member General Assembly would finally accept that “far too many innocent lives have been lost”.

“Do some of us want to continue to believe that we need to allow Israel more time to justify its so-called right to defend itself against a population it illegally occupies?” Ms Joyini asked.

Displaced Palestinians seek shelter in Gaza graveyards – video

“There appears to be an Orwellian justification that some are more equal than others, and therefore, some countries are above the law and cannot be sanctioned or stopped from their merciless persecution and genocidal acts.”

Brazil’s UN ambassador Sergio Franca Danese criticised the council for its lack of action on Gaza over claims that advocating a ceasefire would compromise negotiations.

On February 20, the US vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, with Washington envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield saying the resolution, proposed by Algeria, would hurt negotiations now taking place in Cairo.

“Demanding an immediate, unconditional ceasefire without an agreement requiring Hamas to release the hostages will not bring about peace,” Ms Thomas-Greenfield said.

Israel and Hamas are under mounting pressure to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, particularly with Ramadan approaching.

The US, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker an agreement in which Hamas would release up to 40 hostages in return for a six-week ceasefire, the release of Palestinian detainees and a major flow of humanitarian aid to the enclave.

“The council cannot be prevented to meet its responsibilities based on non-fulfilling promises of direct talks,” Mr Danese said.

“Simply awaiting a solution based on direct negotiations, while unceasing ruthless military operations continue to kill unarmed civilians and target protected objects, implies complicity with death and destruction.”

Latest from the Israel-Gaza war – in pictures

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

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Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

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