Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
King Abdullah of Jordan called on the international community "to urgently pressure Israel to stop the war, protect civilians, and end the siege on the Strip," during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Amman on Wednesday, the royal palace said.
King Abdullah warned that the continuation of the war against Gaza "may lead to an explosion of the situation in the region". He also rejected any actions intended to displace Palestinians in Gaza.
Mr Macron left Amman for Cairo, where he held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and cautioned against Israeli an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza that could further endanger civilians.
"France recognises Israel's right to defend itself," he told reporters in Egypt.
"Regarding a ground intervention, if it is entirely targeted against terrorist groups, that is a choice that it has, but if it is a massive operation that would endanger civilian populations, in that case I think it would be an error for Israel."
At a joint news conference with Mr El Sisi in Cairo, Mr Macron said that humanitarian aid must enter Gaza without obstacles.
Mr Macron said it was essential to get fuel supplies to hospitals, adding that a French navy ship would arrive soon to help bring support to Gaza hospitals and a plane will arrive in Egypt with key supplies.
Mr Macron thanked Mr El Sisi for securing the release of some hostages, but said that "all hostages should be released".
Egypt has been one of the main brokers in efforts to secure the release of more than 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza..
Mr El Sisi said he agreed with Mr Macron to work on containing the crisis in Gaza, introduce aid and seek to prevent other parties from entering the conflict.
The two leaders agreed that any displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip towards Egyptian territory would be "extremely dangerous", Mr El Sisi said.
"We condemn all actions that affect all civilians and this should be addressed with one standard," Mr El Sisi said.
Mr El Sisi said that his country was playing a "very positive role" trying to de-escalate and find a diplomatic solution to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Inspecting scores of Egyptian warplanes, tanks, and other military hardware at an exercise on the western edge of the Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday, Mr El Sisi said that Egypt would use its military capabilities only "to defend itself".
On Tuesday, the French president was in Israel, where he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed support for Israel's operations against Hamas – while demanding that it applies the rules of war.
"We are democracies that are fighting against terrorists, democracies that respect the laws of war, democracies that do not target civilians, in Gaza or elsewhere,” Mr Macron said.
Mr Macron later met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
Jordan and Egypt have been among the countries most critical of the Israeli offensive on Gaza, which was initiated in response to a surprise attack by Hamas against Israeli targets on October 7.
At the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Jordan was among the Arab countries to express outrage over the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza, while Israel attacked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for what it views as his disproportional focus on Palestinians.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the conflict in Gaza is being seen as a war between the West and Islam in the latest stark warning from the kingdom about the war.
Israeli authorities said 1,400 people were killed the October 7 attack. Hamas-aligned health officials say the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 5,000.
On Wednesday, while inspecting military units in Suez, Mr El Sisi said Cairo was playing a very positive role in de-escalating the Gaza crisis.
He said it was important to "use capabilities wisely" and that the army's role was to secure Egyptian borders.
He said it was very important to rely on a diplomatic solution for the Palestinian cause.
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
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
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
The biog
Born November 11, 1948
Education: BA, English Language and Literature, Cairo University
Family: Four brothers, seven sisters, two daughters, 42 and 39, two sons, 43 and 35, and 15 grandchildren
Hobbies: Reading and traveling
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):
PSG (2) v Manchester United (0)
Midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Price, base: Dh228,000 / Dh232,000 (est)
Engine: 5.7-litre Hemi V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 552Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.5L / 100km
