UN General Assembly votes for ‘Hamas-free’ Palestinian state

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted on Friday to back the “New York Declaration,” a resolution which seeks to breathe new life into the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine — without the involvement of Hamas.

The text was adopted by 142 votes in favour, 10 against — including Israel and key ally the United States — and 12 abstentions. It rebukes Hamas and demands that it surrender its weapons.

Although Israel has criticised UN bodies for nearly two years over their failure to rebuke Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, the declaration, presented by France and Saudi Arabia, leaves no ambiguity.

Formally called the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, the text states that “Hamas must free all hostages” and that the UN General Assembly (UNGA) condemns “the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians on October 7”.

It also calls for “collective action to end the war in Gaza, to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the effective implementation of the two-state solution”.

The declaration, which was already endorsed by the Arab League and co-signed in July by 17 UN member states, including several Arab countries, also goes further than rebuking Hamas, seeking to fully excise it from a role in Gaza.

“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,” the declaration states.

The vote precedes an upcoming UN summit co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris on September 22 in New York, in which French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to formally recognise the Palestinian state.

‘Shield’ against criticism

“The fact that the General Assembly is finally backing a text that condemns Hamas directly is significant” even if “Israelis will say it is far too little, far too late”, Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group, told AFP.

“Now at least states supporting the Palestinians can rebuff Israeli accusations that they implicitly condone Hamas,” he said, adding that it “offers a shield against Israeli criticism”.

In addition to Macron, several other leaders have announced their intent to formally recognise the Palestinian state during the UN summit.

The gestures are seen as a means of increasing pressure on Israel to end the fighting in Gaza.

The New York Declaration includes discussion of a “deployment of a temporary international stabilisation mission” to the battered region under the mandate of the UN Security Council, aiming to support the Palestinian civilian population and facilitate security responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority.

Around three-quarters of the 193 UN member states recognise the Palestinian state proclaimed in 1988 by the exiled Palestinian leadership.

However, after two years of fighting have ravaged the Gaza Strip, in addition to expanded Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the stated desire by Israeli officials to annex the territory, fears have been growing that the existence of an independent Palestinian state will soon become impossible.

Israel’s devastating retaliatory offensive has killed at least 64,656 Palestinians, most of them civilians. Israel has been facing growing international criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by its offensive with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and experts already declaring its actions in Gaza as a “genocide”, which Tel Aviv rejects.

“We are going to fulfil our promise that there will be no Palestinian state,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Thursday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, may be prevented from visiting New York for the UN summit after US authorities said they would deny him a visa.

Singapore Provides Aid for Pakistan Flood Victims’ Rehabilitation

The Government of Singapore on Friday pledged a seed money of USD 50,000 in humanitarian assistance for the people of Pakistan, affected by devastating floods. “The Singapore Government will contribute US$ 50,000 as seed money to support the Singapore Red Cross (SRC)’s public fundraising efforts towards the humanitarian crisis, caused by floods in Pakistan,” Singapore Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The contribution by the Singapore Government will supplement the SRC’s pledge of S$50,000 to support the immediate needs of affected communities, it added. The Singapore foreign ministry also conveyed deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the floods.

Pakistan Embassy in Singapore said in a statement that the contribution by the Singapore government reflected Singapore’s solidarity with the people of Pakistan during this difficult time.

It will support ongoing relief and recovery efforts to assist families and communities impacted by the floods, according to a press release by Pakistan embassy in Singapore. The Singapore Red Cross launched its fund-raising appeal last week to support those in Pakistan impacted by the mid-August monsoon floods. It also committed US$ 39,000 to support humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and the contribution by the Singapore government will supplement this pledge.

Zeekr 001 Sends Shockwaves Through Global EV Market

When Audi executives first came across the Zeekr 001 in 2021—a long-range electric vehicle featuring European design—it was a striking wake-up call for the premium German automaker.

Competing with Chinese rivals would require leveraging Chinese technology.

"The Zeekr 001 back then shocked quite everyone," said Stefan Poetzl, president of SAIC Audi Sales and Marketing.

"We needed to do something about it."

Audi developed the AUDI E5 Sportback in only 18 months to strengthen its EV offerings for Chinese buyers, leveraging technology from its Chinese partner SAIC.

Including batteries, electric powertrains, infotainment software, and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Audi plans to begin delivering the $33,000 EV to customers in China this month, and its global competitors are now turning to Chinese intellectual property to accelerate new model launches.

For China-specific models, Toyota and Volkswagen have joint development initiatives, drawing on technology from Chinese partners GAC and Xpeng, respectively.

Renault and Ford aim to take it further by creating global models based on Chinese EV platforms, sources said. Renault did not respond to a request for comment.

Ford declined to comment. These licensing agreements represent an expanding yet modest revenue source for Chinese EV manufacturers and provide a fresh quid pro quo.

Global automakers rely on Chinese technology to overcome development challenges and introduce new EVs swiftly.

At the same time, Chinese firms urgently require extra income amid a fierce domestic price war and escalating trade tensions overseas.

"It's a very clever, win-win arrangement," said Will Wang, general manager of Shanghai-based consulting firm Autodatas, which produces teardown analyses of top-selling EV models.

'CHINA INSIDE'

This emerging approach echoes the "Intel Inside" campaign of the 1990s, in which U.S. chip giant Intel leveraged cutting-edge components to elevate computers into premium devices.

Here, Chinese automakers offer EV technology as a complete package: the foundational elements for turnkey, white-label battery-electric vehicles, ideal even for low-volume producers with limited budgets.

Leapmotor (9863.HK) has teamed up with Stellantis (STLAM.MI) to market its EVs beyond China and is in discussions with other brands to license its technology, CEO Zhu Jiangming told Reuters.

Adopting a pre-engineered Chinese EV chassis and software could save billions in dollars and years of development time, helping legacy automakers close the gap with Chinese competitors, according to industry experts.

Renault (RENA.PA) was an early pioneer, producing the affordable Dacia Spring EV on a platform from China's Dongfeng for European sales beginning in 2021.

Renault has advanced further with the upcoming electric Twingo, being developed at its Shanghai research center, where Chinese EV engineering firm Launch Design is supplying technical expertise for the platform, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Launch did not respond to requests for comment.

Additional "China Inside" vehicles may arrive soon. Two people with knowledge of the situation said Ford is pursuing a Chinese collaborator to supply EV platform technologies.

CEO Jim Farley has often tested Chinese EVs and recently commended Xiaomi's SU7 electric sedan.

Volkswagen has broadened its efforts to create China-tailored models across all powertrains, based on platforms jointly developed with Xpeng, incorporating the latter's designs for electronics and software.

Analysts note that established automakers often falter in crafting nimble EV architectures that support frequent updates, owing to their complex organizational setups.

That's why Volkswagen is exploring whether Xpeng's EV technologies can supplement or supplant its own, said Yale Zhang, managing director at Shanghai-based consultancy AutoForesight. If successful in China, Volkswagen might extend the approach worldwide, Zhang added.

A Volkswagen China spokesperson told Reuters that its partnership with Xpeng remains China-focused for now.

Xpeng's He Xiaopeng has indicated that the two companies aim to extend their collaboration beyond China. This would enhance Xpeng's revenue without the need for overseas factories, said Autodatas' Wang.

Oliver Wyman analyst Marco Santino noted that traditional automakers could harness the "firepower" of intense Chinese EV rivalry to surge ahead in development.

"You get a much more quality-proof product in the market in a shorter timeframe," Santino said.

MORE CHOICE?

Drawing inspiration from Tesla, China's EV producers have created modular platforms that reduce expenses, speed up development, and ease entry barriers. "They are quick learners from Tesla," said Forest Tu, a former executive at Chinese battery leader CATL (300750.SZ), who now runs consulting firm Mapleview Technology.

This edge is now substantial enough to support "licensing and royalty services" as Chinese EV makers venture abroad, Tu said.

CATL has embraced this model with Ford (F.N), licensing its technology for a battery facility.

Sharing Chinese technology could empower less-industrialized nations to establish their own "national EV brands," Tu added.

Abu Dhabi-based CYVN Holdings, a key investor in Nio (9866.HK), has crafted its own luxury EV using the Chinese company's chassis and software.

CYVN acquired British sports car brand McLaren in April and intends to market its EV under the McLaren name, according to two sources familiar with the matter. However, subsequent models will integrate much more McLaren "DNA" and less Chinese tech, one source noted.

Nio declined to comment. CYVN did not respond to a request for comment.

CATL's latest EV chassis, meanwhile, will enable consumers to "decide what an EV looks like, rather than having giant automakers decide what to sell," said its executive president Hu Guoliang.

The company announced it would scale up chassis output over the next three years following deals with several domestic automakers.

Its Bedrock Chassis made its European debut this week at the IAA Mobility show in Munich.

Whether the reciprocal advantages of Chinese EV technology endure in the long run, though, is an uncertainty.

Former Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer cautioned that while R&D savings are real, automakers should steer clear of excessive dependence on external tech.

"In the long-term you're screwed because you're just a retailer," Palmer said.

Oliver Wyman's Santino warned that the primary hazard for legacy automakers is that"your capability to differentiate your brand is really limited.

" By integrating their own innovations, they can "limit the risk," Santino suggested.

Apple watch to detect hypertension, launching next week

Apple will roll out a hypertension detection feature on its smartwatch next week after receiving US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance on Thursday, Bloomberg News reported.

Apple and the FDA did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

The company unveiled a blood pressure monitor in its latest Apple Watch at the September 9 event, where it also introduced a refreshed iPhone lineup, including a slimmer iPhone Air.

The feature, pending regulatory approval, will not detect every case of high blood pressure, but could alert about a million people, Apple said.

Available in 150 countries, the tool will use data from the watch’s optical heart sensor to track how a user’s blood vessels respond to heartbeats over 30 days, the report said, citing Apple.

The feature will be available on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, and its more expensive Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 smartwatches, Bloomberg News said.

Islamabad court overturns ban, restoring 11 YouTube channels

An Islamabad district and sessions court set aside a lower court’s order to block 27 YouTube channels, granting relief to 11 petitioners.

In July, it emerged that an Islamabad court had ordered YouTube in June to block 27 channels for disseminating “fake, misleading, and defamatory” content against the government and armed forces.

The sanctioned accounts were being run by journalists, political commentators and social media influencers in Pakistan and overseas.

The ban order sparked criticism from various legal and digital rights groups.

Among the 27 channels were those of the PTI, journalists Matiuallah Jan, Wajahat Khan, Ahmad Noorani and Asad Ali Toor; former anchors Imran Riaz, Orya Maqbool, Sabir Shakir, and Moeed Pirzada.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Muhammad Afzal Majoka had later suspended the order for at least seven petitioners.

A total of 11 of those impacted had appealed against the lower court’s order.

ADSJ Majoka conducted a hearing over the matter today and expressed anger at the prosecutor of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency.

“You have started getting your work carried out through us. I will never let this happen. Tell me under which authority channels can be shut down? You are trying to defame the judges,” he remarked.

The judge said he would dismiss the petitions of those whose lawyers did not appear in court for non-compliance.

He subsequently reserved his verdict and later overturned the lower court’s order to the extent of 11 petitioners.

Qatar Demands Justice for Netanyahu After Israeli Strikes in Doha

Qatar’s Prime Minister on Wednesday condemned an unprecedented Israeli strike in Doha targeting Hamas, saying it has destroyed hopes for the release of Gaza hostages. He called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be “brought to justice,” criticizing the attack as a severe escalation in the ongoing conflict.

His comments came a day after deadly strikes targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar -- a US ally -- a first in the oil-rich Gulf that rattled a region long shielded from conflict.

"I think that what Netanyahu has done yesterday, he just killed any hope for those hostages," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told CNN.

Doha is "reassessing everything" around their involvement in future ceasefire talks and discussing next steps with Washington, he added in comments cited in CNN's live blog after an interview with the broadcaster.

The attack, just three months after Iran launched a retaliatory strike on a US airbase in Qatar, also cast serious doubt on Qatar-mediated Gaza ceasefire talks and undermined security reassurances to the Gulf from key ally Washington.

Earlier Wednesday, Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed that Israel would "act against its enemies anywhere" while Netanyahu urged Qatar to expel Hamas officials or hold them to account, "because if you don't, we will".

Qatar has hosted Hamas's political bureau since 2012 with Washington's blessing, and has been a key mediator in Gaza talks alongside Egypt and the United States.

Israel's military said it struck Huthi targets in Yemen on Wednesday, including in the capital Sanaa, killing 35 people according to the rebels.

Palestinian militant group Hamas said six people were killed in Tuesday's strikes in Qatar, but its senior leaders had survived, affirming "the enemy's failure to assassinate our brothers in the negotiating delegation".

The White House said Trump did not agree with Israel's decision to take military action.

Trump said he was not notified in advance and when he heard, asked his envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar immediately -- but the attack had already started.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, sought to justify the decision, telling an Israeli radio station: "It was not an attack on Qatar; it was an attack on Hamas."

- 'Shaken conscience of world' -

Hamas political bureau member Hossam Badran said Israel "represents a real danger to the security and stability of the region".

"It is in an open war with everyone, not just with the Palestinian people," he said.

In Gaza City on Wednesday, the Israeli military destroyed another high-rise building as it intensified its assault on the territory's largest urban centre, despite mounting calls to end its campaign.

The military issued an evacuation warning to those living in and around the Tiba 2 tower, before later saying it had "struck a high-rise building that was used by the Hamas terrorist organisation".

AFP images showed huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky as the residential tower in western Gaza City crashed to the ground.

In the aftermath, young girls rushed to pick dust-covered dough out of the rubble.

Siham Abu al-Foul told AFP she couldn't take anything with her when the army issued the evacuation orders.

"They brought down the tower and we came running and there was nothing left... Everything we fixed in two years was gone in a minute."

The Israeli military said it had struck 360 targets since Friday and vowed that it would "increase the pace of targeted strikes" in the Gaza City area in the coming days.

The Gaza war has created catastrophic humanitarian conditions for the population of more than two million, with the United Nations last month declaring a famine in Gaza City and its surroundings.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she would push to sanction "extremist" Israeli ministers and curb trade ties over the dire situation.

"What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world," she said.

- 'Not thrilled' -

Israel's targeting of Hamas leaders in Qatar sparked international condemnation.

Trump said he was not notified in advance of the Israeli strikes and was "not thrilled about the whole situation".

"I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the U.S., and feel very badly about the location of the attack," he said in a social media post, adding Hamas's elimination was still a "worthy goal".

Canada said it was reassessing its relationship with Israel following the Doha strikes.

Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Of the 251 hostages seized during the assault, 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 64,656 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza that the UN considers reliable.

Ex-Chief Justice Sushila Karki Tipped to Head Nepal’s Interim Government

Nepal’s former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has emerged as the frontrunner to serve as interim leader, according to a representative of the “Gen Z” protesters.

The announcement came Thursday following mass demonstrations that led to the ouster of the long-serving prime minister.

Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel held "consultations with related stakeholders and held a meeting with representatives of Gen Z" on Wednesday.

Military spokesperson said, referring to the loose umbrella title of the protest movement, without giving further details.

The army is seeking to restore order in the Himalayan nation of 30 million people, after the worst violence in two decades ousted the prime minister and left the parliament ablaze on Tuesday.

"Right now, Sushila Karki's name is coming up to lead the interim government — we are now waiting for the president to make a move," said Rakshya Bam, who was among those attending the meeting.

"We discussed with the army chief about the future," she told AFP.

"The conversation was about how we can move forward, keeping the peace and security of the country."

Karki, 73, an academic and Nepal's first female Supreme Court chief justice, has told AFP that "experts need to come together to figure out the way forward", and that "the parliament still stands".

But others warned the choice of the protesters — who are not one single party — was far from unanimous.

In a virtual meeting attended by thousands on the online social platform Discord, young people discussed their varied agendas — and debated who should represent them.

There were conflicting arguments and several names proposed.

"There are divisions," journalist Pranaya Rana said.

"It is natural in a decentralised movement like this that there are going to be competing interests and competing voices."

Soldiers patrolled the streets of the capital for a second day on Thursday, which appeared to be quiet, with multiple army checkpoints set up along the streets.

Demonstrations began on Monday in Kathmandu against the government's ban on social media and over corruption.

But they escalated into an outpouring of rage nationwide, with government buildings set on fire after at least 19 people were killed in a deadly crackdown.