Congress Republicans on Wednesday released a comprehensive policy proposal to impose the largest sanctions measures to date on Iran that entail designating the Houthis in Yemen as a terrorist organisation.
The 111-page-plan, released by the Republican Study Committee in Congress and authored by 13 Republican members on the committee, strikes a hawkish tone on foreign policy by advocating increasing of sanctions on Iran, halting aid to Lebanon, designating the Houthis, considering sanctions against former Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil and ending waivers to Iraq.
While the document acknowledges that unlike China and Russia, “Iran is not a great power or strategic competitor” to the United States, it describes it as a “significant challenge as a rogue regime backed by a military and intelligence apparatus while being the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.”
“It has given aid and comfort to Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban, as well as other Iranian-backed terrorist militias,” the Republican congressional study read.
It includes 25 policy recommendations on Iran, some are tabled in sanctions bills inside the proposal.
The recommendations include triggering snapback sanctions; extending a UN arms embargo; directing the Department of the Treasury to sanction the commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force Amir-Ali Hajizadeh and imposing sanctions on Iran’s petrochemical, financial, automotive, and construction sectors.
It also calls for imposing sanctions on the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX); requiring the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to broaden the scope of activities constituting ‘significant support’ to Iran’s shipping sector; codifying and expanding current human rights sanctions on Iran; sanctioning Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s financial empire; enacting the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act and the Stop Corrupt Iranian Oligarchs and Entities Act.
Regionally, these recommendations on Iran include designating a number of Iranian-backed proxy militias in Iraq and Syria foreign terrorist organisations, blocking the funding for the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and Federal Police until certain safeguards are met; cutting all funding for US security assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF); prohibiting the sending of taxpayer money to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bail out Lebanon; expanding sanctions on Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon; enacting a statement of policy supporting the Trump administration policy of political transition in Syria and withdrawal of all Iranian forces from Syria; requiring the Department of Defence to produce a feasibility assessment of a no-fly zone over Idlib; sanctioning the Houthis in Yemen as a foreign terrorist organisation and codifying sanctions on those supporting the Houthis and destabilising Yemen; refraining from cutting arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
On the designation of the Houthis, the authors urge Congress to “pass legislation requiring the examination of whether the Houthis meet the criteria to be designated as an FTO because of its ties with other terrorist organisations, such as the IRGC, and its terrorist attacks against Yemeni civilians and Saudi Arabia”. But they make it clear in the recommendations that they support such designation.
On Iraq, it recommends that “Congress should require the president to designate Ameri, the Badr Corps, along with other Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, such as Kata’ib Imam Ali, Suraya Al Khorasani, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Liwa Abu Fadl Al Abbas, Hara- kat Al Awfiya, Harakat Jund al-Imam, and Sarayya Ashoura.”
On Lebanon it calls for sanctions on Hezbollah's allies. It mentions “[Former] Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil and head of the Amal Movement and the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri” by name.
Ryan Bohl, an analyst at the US intelligence company Stratfor, said the proposal confirms the hawkish trend inside the Republican Party but did not expect these proposed sanctions to pass.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has opposed cutting aid to Lebanon and ending waivers to Iraq in the past.
"It seems unlikely to pass, especially with the November election coming up and Democrats not wanting to look like they're creating overseas tension," Mr Bohl said. But the expert told The National that the document brings more focus on Iraq and Lebanon in countering Iran's influence.
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
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
EA Sports FC 24
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEmonovo%20(previously%20Marj3)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECairo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2016%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeducation%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ethree%20rounds%2C%20undisclosed%20amount%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ovasave%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Majd%20Abu%20Zant%20and%20Torkia%20Mahloul%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Healthtech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Three%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24400%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
