Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The US warned Israel on Tuesday against a ground offensive in Rafah, saying it is “not the way to do it”.
“Our advice to Israel is there is a better way,” deputy US ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said a day after the Security Council demanded an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to press ahead with the war in Gaza and condemned the council's resolution, saying it had emboldened Hamas to reject a separate proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release.
As the conflict continues in its sixth month, Israel and Hamas maintain that their respective definitions of victory are attainable, dismissing global attempts to end the war.
The US decision not to block the Security Council resolution has increased tension with Israel.
“That is a message that President [Joe] Biden, Secretary [Antony] Blinken, Secretary [Lloyd] Austin and ambassador [Linda] Thomas-Greenfield all have communicated to senior Israeli officials in recent weeks, and we will continue to emphasise,” Mr Wood said at a Security Council briefing on the Middle East.
UN Security Council passes the first ceasefire resolution in Gaza – video
He said the Gaza resolution is “only one step” towards a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages.
“We need diplomacy on the ground,” Mr Wood said. “We should all be pressing Hamas to agree to this deal without delay.”
Hamas said it would hold on to the hostages until Israel agrees to a more permanent ceasefire, withdraws its forces from Gaza and releases hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
In her remarks to the council on Monday, US ambassador Ms Thomas-Greenfield claimed that the new resolution was non-binding.
“Do the statements by Ms Thomas-Greenfield and other officials mean that the US does not consider Security Council resolutions to be binding for the implementation by member states?” asked Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's UN envoy.
Israel targets Rafah with air strikes – in pictures
“Israel now, despite a direct demand from the Security Council, has complete carte blanche and is not planning to stop until it razes Gaza to the ground,” noted Mr Nebenzya.
Richard Gowan, UN director for the International Crisis Group, told The National that the Biden administration is “deliberately leaving open the option” that could allow Israel to resume military action against Hamas if it does not release the hostages.
“The US is clearly not in favour of an unconditional ceasefire, unlike many other members of the UN,” Mr Gowan said.
“We don't know what the US is saying to Israel in private about the resolution, but we do know that the Israelis are angry the US abstained on it.”
After the resolution was passed, Mr Netanyahu's office announced it had cancelled a visit to Washington by a delegation that would have been focused on discussing alternatives to a ground invasion of Rafah.
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
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
THE%20SPECS
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Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
SPEC SHEET
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CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD
Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio
Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video
Platform: Android 11
Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics
Durability: IP52
Biometrics: Face unlock
Price: Dh849
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
