Shonda Rhimes knows how to tell a good tale, but Anna Sorokin, the subject of the TV producer's first Netflix show, already did most of the legwork for her.
Inventing Anna, all nine episodes of which debuted on the streaming platform on Friday, tells the true story of Sorokin (played by Ozark's Julia Garner), who tricked Manhattan's elite into thinking she was a wealthy German heiress named Anna Delvey worth €60 million ($67.9m). She climbed through the upper echelons of New York City's art, finance and fashion scenes, before being caught in her act and ultimately landing in Rikers Island jail.
The twenty-something socialite conned "friends" and banks out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Evidence during her trial also showed she stole a private jet, and attempted to get a $25m loan from a hedge fund to create an exclusive arts club.
She would avoid paying huge restaurant or hotel bills and even put a friend in the position where she had to put $62,000 on her credit card to cover their holiday expenses (more than the said friend made in a year).
Sorokin certainly wasn't an heiress. She wasn't even German. She was a magazine intern who was born into a family of Russian immigrants living in Germany.
It's likely you've heard the story before, since journalist Jessica Pressler's New York magazine article on Sorokin went viral back in 2018.
The show is a dramatisation of what went on, told through the perspective of probing journalist Vivian Kent (Anna Chlumsky), a character based on Pressler, who is also a producer on the series.
From jail to freedom to Ice custody
Sorokin's rise all happened between 2013 and 2017, but then her fall came in 2019 when she was sentenced to four-to-12 years in jail for charges relating to grand larceny and theft of services. She ended up serving three years and three months.
Hours after she was freed in February 2021, Sorokin took to Twitter, writing on a new account that was later suspended: "Someone from Fortress Investment Group — I need $720m by the end of next week, DM me". Her bio read "I'm back".
She hired a film crew to follow her around and told Insider she was "filming everything I'm doing right now" and would see what she'd do with it "later". “I just got out of prison, like two days ago. So it’s me like getting all this stuff from Sephora, me opening a bank account as soon as I get permission from my parole officer."
On Instagram, she wrote: “I’m nothing but consistent".
Not even two months later, she was deemed "a danger to society" by a judge and is now being held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or Ice, facing deportation, which she has appealed.
Do these decisions inevitably make me a permanent threat to public safety? The government says yes. But in comparison with whom? Everything's relative
Anna Sorokin
Earlier this month, ahead of the release of Inventing Anna, Sorokin wrote an open letter for Insider from custody about her experience in prison, getting Covid-19 and the Netflix show ("Did I mention I'm the only woman in Ice custody in this whole jail? Tell me I'm special without telling me I'm special.")
For the past few years, she's repeatedly showed no remorse, saying she wasn't sorry for her actions. "Admittedly, I, the ultimate unreliable narrator, have made some questionable choices that I wouldn't necessarily repeat today," she writes in the letter.
But then: "Do these decisions inevitably make me a permanent threat to public safety? The government says yes. But in comparison with whom? Everything's relative."
Does crime pay?
The people who Sorokin conned will no doubt side with the government when it comes to deeming her a threat to public safety. As will those concerned by the glamourisation of crime that can come with dramatisations and even documentaries on real-life cases such as these.
But Sorokin has profited in more ways than one from the Netflix show.
The streaming network paid Sorokin an initial fee of $30,000 pre-trial, according to the BBC, although this money went to her lawyer, reported the New York Post. Sorokin was then paid up to $320,000 by Netflix for the rights to adapt her life story and landed other deals.
She wasn't able to keep all the money owing to the Son of Sam law, which prevents criminals in New York profiting from their notoriety, and some of it was given to victims and about $170,000 used to pay back banks, but when asked by BBC Newsnight if crime pays, she replied: "In a way, it did."
“She’s a role model to some people,” her lawyer told 60 Minutes Australia, as reported in Time. “She’s obviously famous. People like engaging with her. Her social media is blowing up. So, I hope that she can harness all of this into something really positive, productive, and monetise on it. I hope she can make a real business out of it.”
What's fact and fiction in 'Inventing Anna'?
There's a disclaimer with every episode: "This whole story is completely true. Except for the parts that are completely made up."
This could be referring to everything Sorokin fabricated, but Rhimes certainly took a few liberties along the way.
As mentioned, the character of Kent is based on real-life journalist Pressler, who was indeed pregnant through much of the writing process. She wrote the expose partly as a way to redeem herself after, in 2014, Bloomberg News rescinded a job offer when a piece she had written proved to be a hoax, something that's referred to in the series.
Sorokin's boyfriend Chase Sikorski (Saamer Usmani) is also real, but far more focus is given to him in the series than in Pressler's original story. Pressler wrote about a "boyfriend Sorokin was running around with for a while", calling him a "futurist on the Ted-Talks circuit who had been profiled in The New Yorker" and saying they operated as "a team" for about two years, working their way up the ladder of New York's elite.
In Inventing Anna, Sikorski will only speak to Kent if she refers to him as "the futurist" in the article, and when the character's app project fails, he moves to the UAE to work for a sheikh, another detail that is reflected in the real story.
While it's not sure who the real person is, some believe him to be Hunter Lee Soik, who founded a free app called Shadow, lived in Dubai and was once profiled in The New Yorker.
Sorokin's Anna Delvey Foundation, an exclusive arts club in New York City, which Garner's character wants to open in Church Missions House, was also real. She speaks in the series about wanting to have pop-up shops, exhibitions and installations from artists such as Tracey Emin and even get artist Christo to wrap the building; all details that were included in the New York magazine The New Yorker piece.
Pressler told Vulture she "definitely didn't try to break into anyone's home", about the depiction of Kent's reporting trip to Germany, and said she did actually lend Sorokin clothes for the trial, "but it wasn't a fraught situation for me the way it was for Kent. It was more like this kind of screwball sequence of ridiculousness."
The situation in which Garner's Delvey "borrows" a private jet to attend Warren Buffett's annual investment conference also harks back to the truth, when she did "convince" (according to Pressler's article) a company called Blade to charter her a $35,000 jet, sending them a forged confirmation for a wire transfer that never arrived.
A few other characters are based on real-life people, too, such as finance lawyer Alan Reed, who appears to be a reflection of Andy Lance, a partner at the firm Gibson Dunn who Pressler said worked with Sorokin closely (although he didn't respond to the journalist's request for comment at the time), and Peter Hennecke, who was supposed to head up Sorokin's family office in Germany, but Pressler said "he seems to have been a fictional character".
The tumultuous holiday to Marrakesh in episode six with Delvey, her personal trainer, videographer and Vanity Fair journalist Rachel DeLoache Williams actually happened, too. The scenes in the show were not only a reflection of Pressler's piece, but also based on a first-person account written by Williams for Vanity Fair in 2018, although Williams has since described her depiction in the show as "shocking”.
The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
The five pillars of Islam
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
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THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
