A meeting between various Palestinian political factions held in the Egyptian coastal city of Alamein on Sunday ended with no tangible reconciliation between groups based in the Gaza strip and those based in the West Bank.
In a statement made to Wafa news agency, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the 2007 Battle of Gaza, during which Hamas militants took over the Gaza strip and removed Abbas' West Bank-based Fatah party from the enclave.
The battle, which Mr Abbas called a "coup", marked the beginning of a political rift between the parties based in the two main Palestinian territories, which has remained ever since.
Sunday's meeting was held with the aim of reconciling all parties under one banner amid a marked increase in Israeli aggression in Palestinian territories following Benjamin Netanyahu's return to the post of Prime Minister in December.
Mr Abbas was received by Maj Gen Abbas Kamel, director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, at his residence in Alamein on Sunday.
Mr Abbas arrived in the coastal city on Saturday night. After chairing Sunday's talks, he is set to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Monday, according to Wafa.
Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Gaza-based Hamas, also arrived with his delegation on Saturday.
Sunday’s talks were boycotted by the prominent Palestinian Islamic Jihad faction. The Gaza-based militant group's leader Ziyad Al Nakhalah made its participation conditional on the release of detainees by Palestinian authorities in the West Bank.
PIJ denounced “continued political detention and prosecution of the resistance”, speaking to AFP on Saturday.
The talks were also boycotted by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Some analysts were cautiously optimistic that Sunday’s meeting would reach a semblance of unity for the Palestinian groups who have come under increasing pressure from the Israeli right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to a tally by the AP, 160 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the year, either during military raids on refugee camps or by Israeli settlers taking land.
“The success of Sunday’s meeting is going to depend heavily on the participants’ ability to make compromises,” Khaled Okasha, a leading political analyst and the general manager of the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies, told The National on Sunday.
“Being that it is the first meeting of its kind in years in addition to the fact that increased Israeli aggression has created a tremendous impetus to reach Palestinian unity.”
Mr Abbas and Mr Haniyeh met in Ankara last week for talks hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who maintains a good relationship with both sides.
Following the meeting, which took place behind closed doors, Mr Erdogan stated that his government was committed to reaching a reconciliation between the groups.
Mr Abbas and Mr Haniyeh also met in Algeria last year, their first public talks in more than five years.
In October, both factions signed the “Algiers Declaration”, pledging to hold elections within a year for the presidency and for the Palestinian Legislative Council, which acts as a parliament for Palestinians in the occupied territories.
One point of contention that has maintained the rift between groups based in the Gaza Strip and those based in the West Bank is the recognition of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation as the sole representative of the Palestinian people.
Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, the Islamist movement has been at odds with Mr Abbas’s secular Fatah bloc, which administers Palestinian-run areas of the West Bank that Israel has controlled since 1967.
Hamas and PIJ have repeatedly refused to allow the PLO, which is led by Hamas’s rival faction Fatah, to take the lead on managing affairs inside the densely populated enclave.
Following Sunday's meeting, Mr Abbas stressed the importance of unifying behind the PLO, adding that it is unacceptable for any Palestinian to oppose the organisation.
Separation between the various ruling factions in Palestinian territories has made it easier for Israel to attack them individually, Mr Okasha said. “The Palestinians have realised that to stay separated means to be more vulnerable to the aggression of the extremist Israeli government that is in power now,” he added.
A planned presidential election in 2021 was cancelled by Mr Abbas, cited Israel's prevention of voting in East Jerusalem.
However, Hamas has also refused to co-operate with the Palestinian National Authority to hold in elections in the Gaza Strip.
Egypt has hosted repeated rounds of talks between the factions hoping to reach unity, as well as brokering ceasefires between the Israeli security forces and Gaza militants.
“The Egyptian side has exerted a tremendous amount of effort to reconcile the Palestinian groups and it will continue to do so but the ball is in the Palestinians' court and all eyes are on them today to see if they will be able to table their disagreements to hold a presidential election and stand up to Israeli aggression,” Mr Okasha said.
“I think Palestinian factions have also started to confront the fact that there will be little help with their situation from the US or other foreign powers.
“The US might have got a little bit more critical towards Israeli aggression in its public discourse, but such criticisms have little effect on the ground and are little more than lip service.
“The US is clearly still aligned with Israeli interests in the region.”
Company%20profile
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My Cat Yugoslavia by Pajtim Statovci
Pushkin Press
The years Ramadan fell in May
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
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Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
MATCH INFO
Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians won by three runs
Squad for first two ODIs
Kohli (c), Rohit, Dhawan, Rayudu, Pandey, Dhoni (wk), Pant, Jadeja, Chahal, Kuldeep, Khaleel, Shami, Thakur, Rahul.
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
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke
Two stars
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
