Miss Universe 2022 beauty queens crowned, from Turkey to Italy and Kyrgyzstan

It's been a busy week in the world of Miss Universe 2022, as the organisation announced this year's pageant will be held on January 14 next year in New Orleans.

The annual event, which was initially meant to be held later this year to crown the 2022 winner, was postponed earlier this month, extending the reign of the current title-holder, Harnaaz Sandhu from India.

Meanwhile, more representatives have been crowned across the world, leaving only a handful to come.

The next competition will be the 71st Miss Universe pageant, where Sandhu will make way for her successor at the end of the event.

About 70 countries far and wide — from the UK to Ukraine and Guatemala to Ghana — have named their representatives, with more to be unveiled over the coming months.

From the region, Miss Universe Bahrain was announced earlier this month.

Last month, winners from South Africa and Nepal were also named, while pageants in Costa Rica and Greece have yet to take place in September.

The last to win her country's crown will be Miss Universe China, on October 30.

In the meantime, here are a few of the contestants worth looking out for in this year's competition.

Kyrgyzstan

Altynai Botoyarova was named Miss Universe Kyrgyzastan on Wednesday.

At only 18, she's the minimum age required to enter the contest.

She first joined the national pageant two years ago and even competed in the 70th Miss World contest.

"My childhood dream was to compete in Miss Universe, and I wouldn't believe it if they told that 5-year-old girl that dream would come true," she wrote on social media.

Kyrgyzstan first began competing in Miss Universe in 2018.

Turkey

The Miss Turkey 2022 pageant took place on September 20 in Istanbul, with 20 finalists battling it out to take the crowns for Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Supranational.

Aleyna Sirin, 21, was named Miss Universe Turkey. The interior architecture and environmental design student from Malatya described herself during the competition as brave and idealistic.

Italy

Virginia Stablum is used to the spotlight, having starred on the Italian dating show Uomini e Donne, but now she will head to New Orleans in January to compete for her country.

Stablum, 24, was named Miss Universe Italy on September 18, beating 19 other contestants to the coveted crown.

The model and influencer was representing Trentino Alto Adige.

Bahrain

Evlin Khalifa, 24, from Riffa, was named the second Miss Universe Bahrain on September 11.

She beat 300 other hopefuls to the title, following in the footsteps of Manar Deyani, who last year made history by becoming the first beauty queen to represent the kingdom at the global pageant.

Khalifa, who was born to a Bahraini father and Russian mother, is a trained pianist, and took courses in dancing and taekwondo.

A graduate in finance and banking, she is pursuing online classes to master her Arabic and English skills, as well as psychology. She has also done some professional modelling work, having starred in a make-up advertisement for Dior.

Spain

Miss Universe Spain 2022 was crowned on Saturday, September 10 and Alicia Faubel, from Alicante, took home the title.

Faubel, 25, is a professional model and actress who speaks Spanish, English and Tagalog.

She has lived in Dubai and the Philippines and in 2019 starred in the 2019 film General Commander alongside Steven Seagal.

Jamaica

Miss Universe Jamaica 2022, Toshami Calvin, has pageantry in her blood — she's the cousin of Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh. Crowned at a glitzy ceremony AC Hotel Kingston, Calvin, 26, was the clear favourite from the start, and beat 19 other hopefuls to the title.

Winning a spate of preliminary titles including Essence of Style Award, Best In Evening Wear and Spirit of the Pageant, the behavioural technician won praise for her work with autistic children.

"During my reign, I want to get into my advocacy which is raising awareness for children with special needs and children with autism. So, I want to look into how I can implement that, so that we can get these services readily available in rural Jamaica," she told Jamaica Observer soon after her win.

"Getting people diagnosed, so that the parents know that the children are not being bad, but they really have an issue and learning how to address that issue and how to deal with their children."

India

Divita Rai, an architect and model from Karnataka, won the Miss Diva contest on Sunday night.

Sandhu crowned her successor, who hopes to now become the fourth contestant from India to bag the Miss Universe title.

The Miss Diva pageant was not Rai's first rodeo, having participated in the contest last year and placed second after current Miss Universe Sandhu. In 2019, Rai also took part in the Karnataka state competition for Femina Miss India, which sends India's representative to the Miss World pageant, and placed in the top three.

Standing 1.8 metres tall, Rai, who lives in Mumbai, is already an established model, having walked at a number of fashion weeks across the country.

Nepal

Sophiya Bhujel was crowned Oriflame Miss Universe Nepal on August 27 in the grand finale held at Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu.

Sujita Basnet crowned Bhujel, 26, as her successor at the end of the event.

The professional model and social media influencer is no stranger to pageants, having also won Miss Eco International Nepal this year, as well as performing at Miss Nepal 2019. She also represented her home country at the Global Asian Model 2019.

South Africa

Ndavi Nokeri, winner of Miss Universe South Africa 2022. All photos: Miss South Africa
Ndavi Nokeri is crowned at the event in Pretoria.
The top two contestants at Miss Universe South Africa 2022. Ayanda Thabethe from Maritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal was the runner-up on the night.
The event took place in Time Square's SunBet Arena.
Contestants on stage during the Miss Universe South Africa 2022.
Miss Supranational 2022 Lalela Mswane on the red carpet.

Ndavi Nokeri was named Miss South Africa 2022 on August 13 in a glitzy ceremony in Pretoria.

Sandhu championed a local designer at the show, as she attended in a bright orange, plunging fitted gown with a sweeping cape by South African fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee that turned heads on the red carpet.

Nokeri, 23, is from Tzaneen in Limpopo and is an investment management graduate. Miss South Africa 2021 Lalela Mswane was there to crown her predecessor at the event, which took place in Time Square's SunBet Arena.

Thailand

Anna Sueangam-iam, 23, was named Miss Universe Thailand 2022 in a pageant at True Icon Hall in Bangkok on Saturday.

The daughter of former bin collectors, Sueangam-iam, who has a degree in hotel and tourism management, was crowned by her predecessor Anchilee Scott-Kemmis and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, beating 28 other women on the night.

During the final Q&A session, Sueangam-iam asked what she would do to empower people who "feel hopeless". “You’re not the only ones facing despair,” she replied. “I used to be in despair too. We learn from our troubles to adapt and survive. I would call on all of you to have confidence in yourselves and rise to fight again. If I can, so can you.”

A new crown crafted by luxury jeweller Mouawad called Power of Resilience was also unveiled; Sueangam-iam won 1 million baht ($27,663), an apartment and new car.

Iraq

TV presenter Balsam Hussein, 26, a former hair-transplant specialist, was crowned Miss Iraq 2022 at a beauty contest held in Erbil, capital of the northern Kurdish region, last month.

Hussein was among 19 contestants from across the country who were vying for the title and a chance to represent Iraq at the Miss World and Miss Universe events.

Launched in 1947, the Miss Iraq contest was suspended for more than four decades in 1973 because of political upheaval and wars, and resumed only in 2015. The country last competed in 2017.

Hussein represented the Al Karakh district of Baghdad, the Iraqi capital where she was born and raised.

Lebanon

Yasmina Zaytoun was crowned Miss Lebanon 2022 in a glittering ceremony in Beirut last month. The pageant was the first to take place since 2018 in the country.

Zaytoun, who is from Kfarchouba, a village in southern Lebanon, is a journalism student, studying at Notre Dame University — Louaize. She is currently in the third year of her course.

As well as doing some modelling, she hosts the With Yasmina Show on Instagram, which she describes as an educational show and on which she interviews notable Lebanese media and sports personalities.

"This is the best thing that happened in my life ... my dream has finally come true," Zaytoun said on stage, after being crowned Miss Lebanon. "I dedicate my victory to my parents, for sure."

United Kingdom

The latest beauty queen to be crowned is Noky Simbani, 25, who won the Miss Universe Great Britain contest on July 9.

Simbani is from Derby, and holds a master's in engineering. She currently works in finance. In 2017, she represented England in the Miss Grand International pageant. Speaking at the time, Simbani said she was grateful for the platform pageantry had given her to help support local charitable organisations within her community.

Vietnam

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau, 27, won the Miss Universe Vietnam contest on June 25.

The model, and winner of Vietnam's Next Top Model 2016, is from the southern province of Tay Ninh. She was crowned at the pageant's finale with Sandhu and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray in attendance.

Chau is no stranger to pageants, having also won Miss Supranational Vietnam 2018 and Miss Supranational Asia 2019.

On Saturday, she also won the Best Body award and the ecology and environment ambassador title, according to local media.

Ukraine

Due to the war in Ukraine, the traditional Miss Universe Ukraine pageant was not held. However, a winner was still announced in a bid to draw attention to the Russian offensive in the country.

Viktoria Apanasenko, 27, who was the first runner-up at Miss Universe 2021, will represent her home nation at the global contest.

She's a professional model and volunteer, with a degree in social work, who's helping to provide food and medicine to vulnerable people. "She chose this profession because she has always had a sincere desire to help solve social problems and to be able to support vulnerable populations," said Miss Universe Ukraine in a statement on social media.

Philippines

Celeste Cortesi has been named Miss Universe Philippines 2022. All photos: Miss Universe Philippines 2022
Other contestants in the top five were, from left: Annabelle McDonnell from Misamis Oriental; Michelle Dee from Makati and Katrina Llegado from Taguig, as well as Pauline Amelinckx from Bohol, second from right.
The contestants in this year's pageant.
Pauline Amelinckx from Bohol.
Annabelle McDonnell from Misamis Oriental.
Vanessa Ann Ka'ihilani Caro, Miss Iloilo Province.
Genesis Latugat, Miss Baguio City.
Katrina Llegado, Miss Taguig City.

Filipino-Italian beauty queen Celeste Cortesi was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022 in a ceremony at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila in April.

Cortesi, 24, a representative for Pasay City, was born on December 15, 1997, to a Filipino mother and Italian father, and was raised in Italy before moving to the Philippines five years ago to pursue a career in pageantry.

The professional model, who is training to become a property agent, also won the Miss Philippines Earth title in 2018. She went on to represent the country at Miss Earth, where she placed in the top eight finalists.

She is the third Filipina to win two major national crowns, joining Carlene Aguilar, who was named Miss Philippines Earth 2001 and Miss World Philippines 2005, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, who was also Miss World Philippines 2016.

Bhutan

Bhutan is marking its pageant debut this year and Tashi Choden, from Wangdue Phodrang, is the country's first beauty queen.

Choden, 23, was crowned on June 4 after the competition ended in Thimphu. The professional model was also named best in three categories, including evening gown and ramp walk.

“Winning this pageant is a legitimate platform where I can advocate on social issues and talk to young women and try to empower them and try to make them believe in themselves more because I had a hard time believing in myself and look where I am right now,” Choden said, according to local news site BBS.

Seychelles

The first and last time Seychelles competed in Miss Universe was 1995 and after that 27-year hiatus, Gabriella Gonthier, from Mahe, will be representing her home country.

Gonthier, 24, is a model and monitoring and evaluation officer for the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy.

"She believes in creating a beautiful life rather than to wait for one and lives her life to the fullest as every single moment should be cherished; regardless of the situation," read a statement from Miss Universe Seychelles.

"Gabriella is a girl with vision and dreams, determined to make them a reality."

South Korea

Hanna Kim, from Seoul, will represent South Korea in the next pageant. Kim was appointed by Miss Queen Korea, the national beauty pageant responsible for selecting the country's representative for Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Supranational.

Kim, 26, is a woman of many talents. A professional fashion model, she's also a linguist, an interpreter and a classical ballet dancer.

South Korea's participation in the pageant dates back decades, but the country has not yet had a winner.

Canada

Amelia Tu, from Vancouver, is Canada's winning beauty queen this year.

Tu, 20, who is Chinese-Canadian, is currently studying biology and business at the University of California, Berkeley. She's no stranger to pageants, having competed in Rose Queen and Princess Pageant in Oregon state, and being crowned the 2020 Miss Chinese Rose Princess.

She's particularly passionate about sustainability and raising awareness of environmental issues, according to her biography on the Miss Universe Canada website.

"Although she has a vast variety of interests, her all-time favourite hobby would have to be exploring different genres of dance," the website states.

Ghana

Miss Universe Ghana 2022, Engracia Afua K Mofuman, was one of the first women to be crowned for the 71st pageant, as she won the title on December 21, succeeding reigning queen Naa Morkor Commodore.

The 176-centimetre-tall beauty has been on official pageant duties ever since, leading story times for children and meeting VIPs and ambassadors on the organisation's behalf.

Mofuman, 27, has participated in pageants before, competing at Miss Intercontinental 2018, where she came in the top 20.

A model, Mofuman is also quite the linguist and can speak fluent French, Spanish, English and Portuguese.

Indonesia

Laksmi Shari De Neefe Suardana took the Puteri Indonesia 2022 crown at the end of May, becoming the first contestant from Bali to enter Miss Universe.

The fashion designer, author, Unicef activist and model defeated 43 other finalists from 34 provinces in Indonesia, stunning the jury with her performance, according to CNN Indonesia.

Suardana, 26, was born in Melbourne to an Australian mother and Balinese father. Together with her parents, she has worked since 2004 to boost tourism in Bali through the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

She also dabbled in acting in 2010 when she appeared as an extra in the hit film Eat Pray Love.

Scroll through the gallery below to see the most dazzling Miss Universe 2021 national costumes

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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.

ETFs explained

Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.

ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.

There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.

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'The Ice Road'

Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne

2/5

Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca

Tamkeen's offering

Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
Option 2: 50% across three years
Option 3: 30% across five years

Electric scooters: some rules to remember

Riders must be 14-years-old or over
Wear a protective helmet
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes

Mina Al-Oraibi: Suleimani death casts a long shadow over decade ahead

Khaled Yacoub Oweis: Hezbollah bids to control Lebanon’s financial system

National Editorial: Hezbollah's murky dealings in Iraq have been unveiled

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

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ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

The bio:

Favourite film:

Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.

Favourite holiday destination:

Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.

Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.

Favourite pastime:

Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.

Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.

Personal motto:

Declan: Take chances.

Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.

WWE Super ShowDown results

Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title

Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship

Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns

Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party

Randy Orton beats Triple H

Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley

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Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal

The Undertaker beat Goldberg

Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn

In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:

Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners

Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)

'Young girls thinking of big ideas'

Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.

“Most of us have this dream of opening a business,” said Afra, referring to her peers are “young girls thinking of big ideas.”

In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.

“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”

Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.

“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”

rpennington@thenational.ae

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US households add $601bn of debt in 2019

American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.

Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.

In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.

The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.

"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.

U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES

UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)

Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
Thursday 20 January: v England
Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh

UAE squad:

Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith

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Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

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

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Almnssa

Started: August 2020

Founder: Areej Selmi

Based: Gaza

Sectors: Internet, e-commerce

Investments: Grants/private funding

Europe wide

Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.

Belgian authorities joined French police in banning the threatened blockade. A similar lorry cavalcade was planned for Friday in Vienna but cancelled after authorities prohibited it.

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Austrian Grand Prix race timings

Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE

Friday

Noon-1.30pm First practice

4-5.30pm Second practice

Saturday

1-2pm Final practice

4pm Qualifying

Sunday

4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)

MIDWAY

Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

SPAIN SQUAD

Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)

Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)

MATCH INFO

What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)

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

Ferrari

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While you're here

David Frum: What Joe Biden has to fix - and preserve - from the Donald Trump era

Michael Young: Joe Biden must establish a post-American order in the Middle East

Firas Maksad: For the Middle East, Joe Biden is no Barack Obama