Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israeli tanks reached the heart of Rafah on Tuesday amid international outrage over the killing of civilians in Israel's heavy bombardment of the southern Gazan city.
Witnesses including a Palestinian security source told AFP that Israeli tanks were “stationed on Al Awda roundabout in the centre of the city of Rafah.” The Israeli military said its forces continued to operate in the Rafah area, without commenting on reported advances.
Israel launched an assault on Rafah three weeks ago and has since been shelling the city as ground forces move in from the east.
Israeli troops are now estimated to occupy 60 per cent of the city, including the hill that overlooks the border with Egypt, according to the BBC.
Scores of civilians have been killed over the past days as Israeli forces bombard the city and surrounding areas.
At least 21 Palestinians were killed and more than 64 wounded in the latest Israeli strikes on an area of tents housing displaced people to the west of Rafah on Tuesday, the city's civil service official, Mohammed Al Mughayyir told The National.
A further 25 people were killed by Israeli strikes overnight on Monday, Mr Al Mughayyir said, a day after strikes on a camp for displaced Gazans left 45 dead.
Sunday's strike sparked a global outcry and prompted the UN Security Council to schedule an emergency session, called for by Algeria, later on Tuesday.
Palestinian authorities reported that at least 45 civilians were killed after Israeli strikes on Sunday night hit the Tal Al Sutan area west of Rafah, which Israel has designated as a “safe zone” for civilians. The strikes reportedly sparked a blaze that ripped through the camp. Many of those killed were women and children.
Israel's military has announced an investigation into the attack. It said its aircraft “struck a Hamas compound in Rafah” on Sunday and killed Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar, senior officials from the militant group in the occupied West Bank.
Israel launched the strikes hours after Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets at the Tel Aviv area, most of which were intercepted. No injuries or deaths were reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the strike on the camp as a “tragic mistake” but said, “I don’t intend to end the war before every goal has been achieved.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack that “killed scores of innocent civilians who were only seeking shelter from this deadly conflict”.
“There is no safe place in Gaza. This horror must stop,” Mr Guterres said.
Other UN officials called for an investigation into what happened in the camp.
Israel's allies, including the US, had repeatedly warned that a military operation against Rafah could exacerbate the humanitarian situation in the city, where 1.5 million people had been sheltering before the launch of the operation in early May.
Mr Netanyahu dismissed these warnings and insisted that Israel would destroy Hamas, which it says has four battalions in the city.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said that about a million people fled Rafah since the operation began.
“This happened with nowhere safe to go and amidst bombardments, lack of food and water, piles of waste and unsuitable living conditions,” the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East said on X. “Day after day, providing assistance and protection becomes nearly impossible.”
Israel is facing growing international criticism over its conduct in Gaza, where more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October.
On Tuesday, Spain, Ireland and Norway will formally recognise a Palestinian state. In response, Israel announced on Monday punitive steps against Madrid, ordering its consulate in Jerusalem to stop offering services to Palestinians from June 1.
This month, 143 of the 193 members of the UN General Assembly voted in favour of Palestine joining the UN.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Read more about the coronavirus
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
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Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
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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
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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