Latest updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Barbara Leaf, the US assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs, said on Thursday that the investigation into the UN agency for Palestinian refugees must happen quickly, as the UNRWA faces a funding crisis that could force it to halt operations this month.
The UNRWA is facing its biggest crisis since its founding in 1949, after 12 staff members were accused of involvement in the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel. Following the claims, the US announced it would halt funding to the agency.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has ordered an investigation and an independent assessment of the claims.
“It is critical that that be done with the greatest speed and thoroughness,” Ms Leaf told reporters, saying that dealing with the crisis was a matter of “absolute urgency” for the US government.
The UNRWA said it would likely have to shut down its operations in the Middle East by the end February if funding does not resume.
The US contributed $343.9 million to the agency's $1.2 billion budget last year. Many other countries as well as the EU have also paused funds, including second-highest donor Germany, which contributed $202.1 million in 2023.
Ms Leaf acknowledged the important role that the UNRWA plays in Gaza but said allegations against the staff members were extremely grave.
“There's an urgency for several things. One is to get to the bottom of these extraordinarily serious and really terrible allegations that members of a mission that is dedicated to humanitarian support … would be involved in the horrendous attacks of October 7 is really just terrible,” Ms Leaf said.
The decision by US President Joe Biden's administration to suspend the UNRWA funding has galvanised Republicans in Congress, some of whom have long opposed Washington's support for the agency, accusing it of pushing anti-Semitic or anti-Israel curriculums in schools it runs.
Brian Mast, the Republican congressman leading the charge to permanently “abolish” the agency, this week co-sponsored the “Stop Support for UNRWA Act of 2024“.
If passed, it would ban any “voluntary or involuntary” US contributions to the Palestinian relief organisation, and importantly “to any successor or related entity, or to the regular budget of the United Nations for the support of UNRWA or a successor entity.".
Democrats are toeing a more careful line. The Democratic chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee defended the Biden administration's decision to cut the funding, but argued there is currently “no substitute” for it's functions.
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All Black 39-12 British & Irish Lions
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
RESULTS
Bantamweight title:
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) bt Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
(KO round 2)
Catchweight 68kg:
Sean Soriano (USA) bt Noad Lahat (ISR)
(TKO round 1)
Middleweight:
Denis Tiuliulin (RUS) bt Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
(TKO round 1)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) bt Joachim Tollefsen (DEN)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 68kg:
Austin Arnett (USA) bt Daniel Vega (MEX)
(TKO round 3)
Lightweight:
Carrington Banks (USA) bt Marcio Andrade (BRA)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 58kg:
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) bt Malin Hermansson (SWE)
(Submission round 2)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (CAN) bt Juares Dea (CMR)
(Split decision)
Middleweight:
Mohamad Osseili (LEB) bt Ivan Slynko (UKR)
(TKO round 1)
Featherweight:
Tarun Grigoryan (ARM) bt Islam Makhamadjanov (UZB)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 54kg:
Mariagiovanna Vai (ITA) bt Daniella Shutov (ISR)
(Submission round 1)
Middleweight:
Joan Arastey (ESP) bt Omran Chaaban (LEB)
(Unanimous decision)
Welterweight:
Bruno Carvalho (POR) bt Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
(TKO)
New schools in Dubai
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More coverage from the Future Forum
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
RESULTS
5pm: Rated Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Tair, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner: Son Of Normandy, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
