Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani criticised the US ceasefire proposal for Gaza and called on Washington to end its aid for Israel.
He was speaking after he met senior Lebanese officials in Beirut on Monday on his first official trip since taking on the new role.
“If the Americans are honest, then instead of proposing plans under the name of ceasefire, they must take one step, which is end all aid to the Israeli entity,” Mr Kani said from the Iranian embassy in Beirut.
“Only once the aid is cut from the Israeli entity, the entity won't have the tools and ability to commit crimes against the Palestinians and the war will end.”
The timing of Mr Kani's visit was not a coincidence, a source in Beirut said, after US President Joe Biden's comments last Friday on ending the war on Gaza.
Mr Biden had urged Hamas and Israeli leaders to not "lose this moment" in an effort to find peace.
Mr Biden's proposal offered a way to a permanent ceasefire and an end to the war that has claimed the lives of more than 36,400 Gazans and injured more than 82,400 since Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip.
The offensive was in retaliation to Hamas's deadly attacks on Israel on October 7 that killed about 1,200 people.
Mr Kani discussed the continuing Israeli bombardment of Gaza and the conflict in south Lebanon as he held talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. He is expected to meet Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
Both foreign ministers reiterated their criticism of Israel's actions against the Palestinian people in Gaza as they discussed a path for peace in south Lebanon.
Iranian state media said Mr Kani would discuss regional developments, especially the situation in Palestine.
The visit came as Hezbollah and Israel engage in daily cross-border exchanges of fire in south Lebanon, which have gradually increased in intensity and scope.
It also comes amid efforts to find peace in south Lebanon and to delineate the contiguous land border there with Israel.
Mr Kani warned Israel against an offensive on south Lebanon, pointing to the strength of Hezbollah which is much more potent that Hamas.
“The entity which is trapped in the swamp in Gaza, if it had the basic rationality, shouldn’t put itself in a similar situation with the strong Lebanese resistance,” he said.
Joint initiative
Mr Kani said he and Mr Bou Habib agreed that regional countries should adopt a joint initiative to stop Israel's violence against the Palestinian people and to protect them.
Mr Kani reaffirmed “Iran's long-standing commitment to stability, security and development in Lebanon".
Mr Bou Habib said "the continuation of the war on Gaza, and the ongoing crimes against the Palestinians" by Israeli undermined the search for stability and security in the region.
He reiterated the Lebanese government's long-held position that it does not want the conflict in south Lebanon to continue and that it is looking for "sustainable solutions that restore calm and stability to southern Lebanon".
While Lebanon is technically in a state of war with Israel, the government has said it does want there to be conflict.
However, it is largely powerless to control Hezbollah in the south. About 100,000 people have been displaced by the conflict there.
At least 60,000 people have been displaced in northern Israel by the conflict. Israel wants to push Hezbollah away from the border area – whether diplomatically or through other methods – so residents of northern Israel can return.
Helicopter crash
Mr Kani was appointed to the job after Hossein Amirabdollahian was killed in a helicopter crash last month in Iran that also claimed the life of president Ebrahim Raisi.
He was previously deputy foreign minister and served as Iran's lead nuclear negotiator in indirect talks with the US.
After Lebanon, he will visit Syria.
Iran is a major supporter of Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group and political party, which is part of the Tehran-backed Axis of Resistance that is characterised by its opposition to Israel.
Hezbollah said it would not cease its attacks until Israel stops its assault on the Gaza Strip.
Mr Amirabdollahian last visited Beirut in February.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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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
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
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