The UN has welcomed the accord between the UAE and Israel that will lead to a full normalisation of diplomatic ties between the two states.
Nikolay Mladenov, the UN’s Special Co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said the deal would stop Israel’s annexation plans in the West Bank, “which the UN has consistently called for”.
“I hope it will create opportunities for Israeli and Palestinian re-engagement,” Mr Mladenov said on Twitter early on Friday.
“The UN will work with all for dialogue, peace and stability.”
The agreement, known as the Abraham Accord, came in a joint call between Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, also praised the announcement.
"Today’s joint statement suspends Israeli annexation plans over parts of the occupied West Bank, something the Secretary-General has consistently called for. Annexation would effectively close the door for a renewal of negotiations and destroy the prospect of a viable Palestinian State and the two-State solution," he said.
He said that Mr Guterres welcomes the agreement.
"Peace in the Middle East is more important than ever as the region confronts the grave threats of Covid-19 and radicalisation. The Secretary-General will continue to work with all sides to open further possibilities for dialogue, peace and stability," said Mr Dujarric.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the US expressed its commitment to Middle East security.
"Huge breakthrough today. Historic peace agreement between our two great friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates," Mr Trump tweeted.
“This deal is a significant step towards peace in the Middle East," he said at the White House.
The statement says that UAE and Israeli officials will meet “in the coming weeks” to sign agreements.
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Reaction: The National discusses Israel and the UAE establishing diplomatic ties
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
On racial profiling at airports
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Likes the colour: Black
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The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
