Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday to hear from mediators Egypt and Qatar on the latest round of ceasefire negotiations, sources said, as Israeli strikes on Gaza killed at least 37 people and injuring scores more.
Sources told The National the Hamas delegates would hold talks with Egyptian officials on Saturday and engage in indirect negotiations with US and Israeli officials beginning from Sunday.
The arrival of the Hamas delegation signals a formal end of the Palestinian group's boycott of Gaza ceasefire talks following the assassination in Tehran in late July of its leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Hamas spokesman Izzat Al Rishq said the team, led by senior official Khalil Al Hayya, was travelling at the invitation of the mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
He added Hamas was ready to implement the terms agreed upon on July 2, based on a declaration from US President Joe Biden and a UN Security Council resolution.
“As Hamas stresses its readiness to implement what has been agreed on, it demands pressure on Israel to commit to it and stop obstructing reaching an agreement,” Mr Al Rishq said.
The sources said Hamas had emphasised before the arrival of its delegation that it remained committed to longstanding demands for Israel to fully withdraw from Gaza and for a permanent ceasefire.
Separately, the Egyptians are considering the latest proposal from Israel, on the issue of Israeli troop presence on the Palestinian side of the land crossing between Egypt and Gaza – and a strip of land that runs the length of the Egypt-Gaza border.
Both areas were captured by Israel in May, a move that deeply angered Cairo and significantly heightened tensions between the two neighbouring nations.
The latest Israeli proposal, according to the sources, is for the bulk of Israeli forces in the border strip Salah Adin (Philadelphi) corridor to pull back by up to 1,000 metres while maintaining some troops inside the area.
Israeli delegates on Friday handed the Egyptians detailed maps of where the remaining forces would be deployed, their numbers and areas of operation, said the sources.
Those remaining troops, according to the proposal, will later withdraw and be replaced by UN peacekeepers as well as US forces that will put in place and run a monitoring regime after the construction of a wall that runs the entire length of the Egypt-Gaza border and fitted with cameras and sensors.
Israel, however, is insisting that it retains the right for its military to return to the area in the case of a perceived security threat. Israel has long charged that arms and dual-use materials were reaching Hamas through underground tunnels running between Egypt and Gaza. Egypt has rejected the charge, claiming that its military destroyed the tunnels nearly a decade ago.
The Hamas delegation, said the sources, will also be briefed while in Cairo on a proposal for a non-partisan Palestinian administration to run the Egypt-Gaza border crossing at Rafah.
On the ground in Gaza, at least three dozen Palestinians were killed in multiple Israeli strikes on Gaza on Saturday morning.
An air strike on a residential building in the Al Amal district of Khan Younis in southern Gaza killed at least 11 people, including four children and four women, medical sources said. Another 11 people were killed in an attack on the Al Katiba area in the centre of the city, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
Wafa reported, citing local sources, that Israeli warplanes bombed a house in the Maan area, south-east of Khan Younis, killing at least four people and injuring others.
Israeli drones struck the tents of displaced people in the city, killing at least one Palestinian and injuring others, according to the report.
Gaza civil defence teams recovered the bodies of three people in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Scores of dead and injured people are still trapped under the rubble and rescuers cannot reach them, local media said.
In central Gaza, warplanes bombed Nuseirat refugee camp, leaving at least three people dead and others injured.
Local sources said planes also targeted a group of people east of Deir Al Balah in central Gaza, leaving several dead, and drones fired at the tents of displaced people in the city, killing one person and injuring five others.
The war began on October 7 when Hamas gunmen stormed into Israeli communities and military bases, killing around 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 40,300 people since October, according to Palestinian health authorities.
The war has displaced most of Gaza's population, often many times, leaving them deprived of shelter, clean water and other essentials as disease spreads, the UN says.
The Israeli army on Saturday issued new orders for Palestinians in the eastern Deir Al Balah and Al Mghazi area of central Gaza to move to an Israeli-designated humanitarian zone.
Wafa news agency reported that around 100,000 Palestinians have been displaced from eastern Deir Al Balah over the past two days due to ongoing and intense Israeli airstrikes on the city and its surroundings.
US President Joe Biden spoke by phone to the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Friday, pushing for a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal as negotiators met in Cairo to try to overcome obstacles.
Egypt, Qatar and the US have for months been engaged in talks aimed at securing a deal to end more than 10 months of war between Israel and Hamas.
The White House said Mr Biden spoke to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim and separately with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to discuss “diplomatic efforts to bring the ceasefire and hostage release deal to a conclusion”'.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Friday denied reports that the negotiations were close to falling apart.
“That is not accurate,” he said on a call with reporters. “There has been progress made. We need now for both sides to come together and work towards implementation.” Mr Kirby added that the talks had been constructive and were “moving forward”.
White House Middle East co-ordinator Brett McGurk and CIA director William Burns were in Cairo as preliminary talks on a deal continued, Mr Kirby said.
“As I said, Director Burns is there, Brett McGurk is there. And so we'll be staying in touch with them, of course, over the next couple of days and seeing how things shake out.”
As the war continues, so do fears of regional escalation between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel. Other Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Yemen's Houthi rebels have also taken up arms against American and Israeli interests in the region.
Three fires were blazing on a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Friday, one day after rescuers evacuated its crew following an assault by Yemeni Houthi militants.
The damaged tanker, carrying 150,000 metric tons of crude oil, poses an environmental hazard, the EU's Red Sea naval mission Aspides said.
“A potential spill could lead to disastrous consequences for the region's marine environment,” the Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority said in a post on the social media site X on Friday.
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
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(Interscope)
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
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
More from Aya Iskandarani
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Match info
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Liverpool v Porto, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
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.”
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
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PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Tuesday results:
- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
- UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
- Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets
Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
Read more from Johann Chacko
