Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
US President Donald Trump has rescinded sanctions on far-right Israeli settler groups and people accused of being involved in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the new White House administration said.
The new White House website, updated following Mr Trump's inauguration, said Mr Trump had revoked Executive Order 14115, issued last February, that authorised sanctions on people “undermining peace, security and stability” in the Palestinian territory.
A US official and a leading resettlement advocate for Afghan refugees said Mr Trump also planned to cancel flights to the US for almost 1,660 Afghans previously cleared by the government to resettle in the country, including family members of American military personnel. It is part of a wider order by Mr Trump suspending refugee programmes.
The changes came as Mr Trump announced sweeping plans for his second term after his inauguration on Monday, including several measures related to the Middle East. The decisions are a reversal of major policies by former president Joe Biden, who imposed sanctions on several Israeli settlers, freezing their US assets and barring Americans from dealing with them.
Growing violence by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank and land grabs in the occupied territory have raised concern among some of Israel's western allies. The US sanctions were imposed after the Biden administration repeatedly urged the Israeli government to hold extremists to account for actions that Washington believes set back hopes for a two-state solution.
Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River, which Palestinians want as the core of an independent state. It has built Jewish settlements there that most countries deem illegal. Israel disputes this, and cites historical and Biblical ties to the land.
In 2019, during his first term, Mr Trump abandoned the long-held US position that the Israeli settlements were illegal, before the policy was restored by Mr Biden.
Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich thanked Mr Trump on Tuesday for his "unwavering support" in lifting the US sanctions.
"These sanctions were a severe and blatant foreign intervention in Israel's internal affairs and an unjustified violation of democratic principles and the mutual respect between friendly nations," he wrote on X.
Mr Trump has signalled he will be a staunch supporter of Israel in his second term but some analysts believe his personality may limit how much Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can push boundaries.
The new President made a number of diplomatic moves in favour of Israel during his first period in office. The US became the first country to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel conquered from Syria in 1967 and later annexed. Washington also recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Israel claims the whole of Jerusalem, including the occupied and annexed east of the city, which Palestinians envision as the capital of their hoped-for state.
Mr Netanyahu congratulated Mr Trump on his inauguration on Monday, telling him in a video message that the “best days of our alliance are yet to come”.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also congratulated Mr Trump and said he was ready to work for peace with Israel based on a two-state solution.
Refugee resettlement
The Afghan refugees who will have their US flights cancelled include unaccompanied minors awaiting reunification with their families in the US, said Shawn VanDiver, head of the AfghanEvac coalition of US veterans and advocacy groups. They also include Afghans at risk of Taliban retribution because they fought for the former US-backed Afghan government, he added.
His comments were echoed by a US official who spoke to news agency Reuters.
Mr Trump's decision also leaves in limbo thousands of other Afghans who have been approved for resettlement as refugees in the US but have not yet been assigned flights from Afghanistan or from neighbouring Pakistan, Mr VanDiver said. Mr Trump made an immigration crackdown a central pledge of his 2024 election campaign, leaving the fate of US refugee programmes up in the air.
“Afghans and advocates are panicking,” said Mr VanDiver.
His organisation is the main coalition that has been working with the US government to evacuate and resettle Afghans in the US since the Taliban seized Kabul as US forces left Afghanistan in August 2021 after two decades of war. Almost 200,000 Afghans have been brought to the US by the Biden administration since the chaotic American troop withdrawal.
Mr VanDiver and the US official said the Afghans approved to resettle as refugees in the US were being removed from the manifests of flights they were due to take from Kabul between now and April.
In other remarks on the Middle East on Monday, Mr Trump said he thinks Saudi Arabia will end up joining the Abraham Accords, a series of normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab nations. He also said he was not confident the ceasefire deal in Gaza would hold, despite trumpeting his diplomacy to secure it ahead of his inauguration.
“That's not our war; it's their war. But I'm not confident,” he said. “I looked at a picture of Gaza. Gaza is like a massive demolition site,” Mr Trump added, saying “fantastic” reconstruction was needed.
“It's a phenomenal location on the sea – best weather. You know, everything's good. It's like, some beautiful things could be done with it.”
– With inputs from agencies
Britain's travel restrictions
- A negative test 2 days before flying
- Complete passenger locator form
- Book a post-arrival PCR test
- Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
- 11 countries on red list quarantine
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
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7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
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8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
