“I cried today over the death of a loved one,” writes Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi on Twitter. The “loved one” she refers to is Cinema Park, a 70-year-old cinema in Kabul that was demolished by Afghan authorities to make way for a new development this month.
"I am a film director; every movie theatre is my home," Karimi's statement continues. "The house in front of my eyes was destroyed and I just cried. I apologise to all the filmmakers, the citizens of Kabul, the people of Kabul. I could not stop the destruction of Cinema Park."
A video of Karimi weeping outside the ruins of Cinema Park has been making rounds on social media since early November, when the filmmaker protested inside the building in an attempt to stop it from being razed.
Karimi was among a number of film directors, artists and activists speaking out against Cinema Park's demolition, citing it as a significant landmark in Afghanistan's cultural history. Filmmakers such as Salim Shaheen and Mohammed Nabi Atai have also expressed their disapproval of the decision, with Atai stating that the building should be considered a historical site.
On social media, users shared the same sentiment with a corresponding trending hashtag, “#Don’t_destroy_cinema_park”.
In its golden age between the 1960s and 1970s – when Afghanistan was making great leaps towards modernisation and liberalisation – the cinema played Hollywood, Bollywood and Afghan films to audiences of both men and women. Built in the 1950s, it managed to survive the invasion of the Soviets in 1979, but underwent significant damage during the consequent Afghan Civil War and was eventually shut down during Taliban rule.
Despite reopening after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Cinema Park failed to secure any investment. The building, still scarred by bullets and bomb attacks, further decayed from neglect, even though it continued to show up to four films per week. In its last week, the cinema hall had about eight employees. Authorities, however, saw the venue as a shelter for drug addicts and continued to call for its destruction.
First, Vice President Amrullah Saleh ordered the demolition that was carried out by Kabul Municipality on November 9. The following day, Saleh addressed critics in a tweet, asking them to support the government's new plans for the area.
"I am impressed with the amount of love and attachment some show to cinema and the art of film. I invite them to make intellectual and other type of contributions to the architectural concept that we are developing to replace the demolished one," Saleh wrote, adding the cinema hall was a "broken building" from the 1960s that was "of no use".
However, activists have questioned the decision to tear down Cinema Park rather than preserve its history. Afghan politician and parliament speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani said in a statement, as reported by local news channel TOLOnews: "Destruction of homes, the destruction of Cinema Park and booths is carried out under the guise of bringing reforms."
This month, TOLOnews obtained a copy of a contract revealing that companies had been bidding to erect businesses in Shahr-e Naw Park, where Cinema Park is located, which contradicts statements by Kabul Municipality that it had received no project proposals for the site.
The document, dated 10 months ago, shows the government was offered $38 million to lease the park for 40 years, with plans to transform it into a venue with restaurants, markets and an entertainment centre. The money would be split among the Ministry of Finance and Kabul Municipality. The former claimed to be unaware of the report.
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
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.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
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Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
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Results
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Slow loris biog
From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets
Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation
Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night
Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
Zayed Sustainability Prize