Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for Washington where he is set to deliver a speech to US Congress this week, a day before Gaza ceasefire mediators will meet Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Doha, sources told The National on Monday.
Mr Netanyahu's high-stakes visit is fraught with political uncertainty after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek re-election and as Washington continues to push for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Talks are set to resume on Thursday in the Qatari capital between mediators and negotiators, sources familiar with the process said.
The Israeli Prime Minister is set to deliver a speech at the US Congress on Wednesday which he said would “seek to anchor the bipartisan support that is so important for Israel”.
Speaking at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu said that the trip would be an opportunity to “thank [Mr Biden] for the things he did for Israel in the war and during his long and distinguished career in public service, as a senator, as vice president, and as President”.
The US, by far Israel’s most important ally, has been crucial throughout the war in Gaza. The relationship between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Biden has nonetheless become strained amid increasing US disquiet about how Israel is conducting the war, the mounting risk of a regional conflict, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and significant anger among Democrats, particularly younger ones, over US support for Israel.
“It will also be an opportunity to discuss with [Mr Biden] how to advance in the critical months ahead the goals that are important for both our countries: achieving the release of all our hostages, defeating Hamas, confronting the terror axis of Iran and its proxies, and ensuring that all Israel citizens return safely to their homes in the north and in the south,” Mr Netanyahu said.
“In this time of war and uncertainty, it's important that Israel's enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow, and always.”
Mr Biden will remain in office until January 20 next year.
Mr Netanyahu’s address at Congress is widely viewed in the Israeli media as an attempt to reach out to former president Donald Trump who is running again for the role.
However, Mr Biden still has months left in office, a critical period in the Gaza War during which US support will be vital as Israel faces down increasingly severe threats from Iranian regional proxies and a series of damaging legal rulings in international courts.
“I will seek to anchor the bipartisan support that is so important for Israel,” Mr Netanyahu said of his US trip.
“And I will tell my friends on both sides of the aisle that regardless of who the American people choose as their next president, Israel remains America's indispensable and strong ally in the Middle East.”
The trip has been politicised in Israel amid desperation for a deal with Hamas that would see the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
A new round of talks with Hamas are set to take place this week after multiple collapses. Mr Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he would dispatch a new delegation with senior officials to continue negotiations at an unspecified location.
Sources said Israeli negotiators were set to meet Hamas representatives and mediators from the US, Qatar, and Egypt in Doha on Thursday, a day after Mr Netanyahu is scheduled to address Congress.
The sources told The National that the US, Israeli and Egyptian delegates heading to Doha would be high-ranking officials but not the heads of the CIA and Egyptian and Israeli intelligence as had been the case during previous rounds of negotiations.
They said that Israel has not responded to Egyptian proposals to end Israeli control of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Israel, they added, remains adamant that the return home of displaced Palestinians in Gaza must be subject to security screening. It is also insisting that the first batch of hostages to be released by Hamas as part of the first phase must be no fewer than 20 captives – the majority of whom must be alive.
“The proposals are fragile and can come unglued at any minute,” said one source, alluding to possible opposition by Hamas and Israel to crucial parts of the proposals.
Opponents of Mr Netanyahu have accused him of repeatedly sabotaging talks for his political survival. His coalition, the most right wing in Israel’s history, has factions who are threatening to topple the government if Israel agrees to a deal that prevents Israel from carrying on a fully-fledged war effort in Gaza.
In addition to Gaza, the conflict between Israel and Yemen's Houthis has escalated in recent days following direct attacks between the two sides. The sources said Egypt has asked Oman to persuade the Houthis and their Iranian backers to stop attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes.
“The latest escalation by the Houthis is horrific,” said another source, referring to the attack of Tel Aviv last week by a drone fired by the Houthis. “There may be more similar attacks by the Houthis in light of reports that they have changed launching positions and relevant personnel and commanders are taking refuge in bunkers.”
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EElggo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20August%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Luma%20Makari%20and%20Mirna%20Mneimneh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Education%20technology%20%2F%20health%20technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Four%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH RESULT
Liverpool 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Liverpool: Salah (26'), Lovren (40'), Solanke (53'), Robertson (85')
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
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
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Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Price: From Dh117,059
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
