Latest updates: Follow our full coverage on the UN General Assembly
A defiant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, saying “we are winning”, as Israel continues its war against Hamas in Gaza and as it carries out strikes in Lebanon.
Dozens of delegates walked out of the General Assembly hall in advance of Mr Netanyahu's speech. His presence in New York has been met with several protests throughout the city.
In perhaps the most anticipated speech of the General Assembly, he sought to portray Israel as a force for good, and called out leaders who had spoken against Israel's aggression in Gaza and more recently in Lebanon, where it has engaged in strikes against Hezbollah in recent days.
“In this battle between good and evil, there must be no equivocation – when you stand with Israel, you stand for your own values and your own interests,” he said.
Mr Netanyahu also directly addressed Iran, which supports Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran: if you strike us, we will strike you,” he said. “There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach. And that's true of the entire Middle East.”
The Israeli leader, who often uses props when speaking to the public, brought posters with him to the General Assembly Hall as well as several family members of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
At one point in his speech, Mr Netanyahu asked the hostage family members to stand and vowed to bring their loved ones back.
“We will return your loved ones home,” he said. “We will not spare that effort until this holy mission is accomplished.”
Mr Netanyahu also addressed Lebanon in his speech, saying Israel would continue to “degrade” the threat of Hezbollah in the country “until all our objectives are made”.
“As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely – and that's exactly what we're doing,” he said, referring to the thousands of Israelis who have fled to the south amid cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah.
He made no mention of a possible ceasefire with Hezbollah. Israel on Thursday rejected a proposal put forward by the US, France and other countries calling for a 21-day pause in fighting.
But in a post on X before his speech, he said Israeli officials have met to discuss US proposals for a ceasefire and will continue talks in the coming day.
About 630 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon this week, with Monday the deadliest day for the country since the 15-year civil war ended in 1990. Even as Mr Netanyahu was speaking, Israeli forces were conducting a massive strike in southern Beirut, saying they were targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. His fate was not immediately known.
Mr Netanyahu invoked the poem Do not Go Gentle into that Good Night by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in his effort to portray Israel’s war efforts as worthy and righteous.
“Israel will not go gently into that good night. We will never need to rage against the dying of the light, because the torch of Israel will forever shine bright,” the Israeli leader said as he concluded his 35-minute speech.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday that shockwaves from the unprecedented death and destruction in Gaza could plunge the region into a full-scale conflict with “unimaginable consequences”.
“Monday was the bloodiest day in Lebanon since 2006,” Mr Guterres told the UN Security Council. “War in Lebanon could lead to further escalation involving outside powers.”
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, meanwhile, warned that the region is in a “zone of real danger”.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Mr Safadi said “anything can go wrong”, claiming that Mr "Netanyahu obviously wants regional war".
“If there's a land invasion into Lebanon, the Lebanese army will have to defend the country. And then what are we going to be looking at?"
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Results
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
SPECS
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Brief scores:
Arsenal 4
Xhaka 25', Lacazette 55', Ramsey 79', Aubameyang 83'
Fulham 1
Kamara 69'
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
