Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said more than half a million Syrians had returned home since 2016. AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said more than half a million Syrians had returned home since 2016. AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said more than half a million Syrians had returned home since 2016. AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said more than half a million Syrians had returned home since 2016. AFP

Turkey's President Erdogan hints at meeting Syria's Bashar Al Assad


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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hinted at the possibility of meeting Syrian counterpart Bashar Al Assad in the future, reinforcing recent tentative steps to restore ties after Ankara's support of rebel groups in Syria's civil war.

"As of now such a meeting is not on the agenda. But I cannot say it is impossible for me to meet with Al Assad," Mr Erdogan told reporters on Thursday in Prague, where he was attending the first meeting of the newly established European Political Community.

"When the right time comes, we can also go to the way of meeting with the president of Syria," he said.

Turkey’s backing has been vital to sustaining Syrian rebels in their last major stronghold in the north-west, after Mr Al Assad defeated the insurgency across the rest of the country with help from Russia and Iran.

Turkey has been hosting nearly four million Syrian refugees since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011.

Mr Erdogan said on Saturday that more than half a million Syrians had returned home since 2016.

"Since the start of our cross-border operations in Syria, about 526,000 volunteers have returned to the safety zones that we established," he told the Turkish Parliament.

Mr Erdogan has in recent months said he is preparing to send back a million Syrian refugees on a “voluntary basis”.

He has said that Ankara aimed to encourage them to return to "safe zones" on the Turkey-Syria border by building them housing and local infrastructure.

Less than nine months from presidential elections, their presence in Turkey has become a thorny political issue, especially as the country battles an economic and monetary crisis.

Opposition parties regularly call on authorities to send Syrian refugees home.

Syria's civil war, which began with a brutal crackdown on peaceful anti-government protests in 2011, has killed nearly half a million people and forced around half of the country's pre-war population from their homes.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in November 2011, eight months after the protests erupted to punish Mr Al Assad’s regime for failing to end the bloodshed caused by its clampdown.

However, there have been calls from several Arab nations for Syria to be readmitted into the Arab League as the government has regained control over most of the country. The Al Assad regime has been mainly backed by Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

  • A severe economic downturn in Turkey is making life difficult for the country's population of 3.7 million Syrian refugees. All photos: AFP
    A severe economic downturn in Turkey is making life difficult for the country's population of 3.7 million Syrian refugees. All photos: AFP
  • Syrian refugee Ahmad Ibrahim, 31, poses inside his textile shop in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Inflation has surged and the value of the Turkish lira has dropped.
    Syrian refugee Ahmad Ibrahim, 31, poses inside his textile shop in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Inflation has surged and the value of the Turkish lira has dropped.
  • Samira, 43, hears the same message from Turkish politicians on television day and night: Syrian refugees like her must return home. But her home near Damascus is still not safe, she says.
    Samira, 43, hears the same message from Turkish politicians on television day and night: Syrian refugees like her must return home. But her home near Damascus is still not safe, she says.
  • Refugees fear they will be used as a scapegoat for Turkey's problems in the 2023 electoral campaign, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces rising public anger over their presence.
    Refugees fear they will be used as a scapegoat for Turkey's problems in the 2023 electoral campaign, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces rising public anger over their presence.
  • Despite pressure from opposition parties, Mr Erdogan has promised that Turkey will not force Syrian refugees back and 'will not throw them into the lap of murderers'. But his assurances are not allaying their fears.
    Despite pressure from opposition parties, Mr Erdogan has promised that Turkey will not force Syrian refugees back and 'will not throw them into the lap of murderers'. But his assurances are not allaying their fears.
  • Fatima Ibrahim, in her early 30s, married a Syrian refugee after fleeing to Turkey nine years ago. The economic fallout is hitting them equally as hard as the Turks, she said. 'Employers pay us less, so locals are annoyed, blaming us for accepting a wage less than theirs,' she said, sitting next to her three young sons.
    Fatima Ibrahim, in her early 30s, married a Syrian refugee after fleeing to Turkey nine years ago. The economic fallout is hitting them equally as hard as the Turks, she said. 'Employers pay us less, so locals are annoyed, blaming us for accepting a wage less than theirs,' she said, sitting next to her three young sons.
  • Haifa, 39, English teacher from Aleppo, is fluent in Turkish after nine years here, and avoids speaking Arabic in public so as not to attract attention. 'I want to keep myself safe. Political issues affect us more than the economy,' she said.
    Haifa, 39, English teacher from Aleppo, is fluent in Turkish after nine years here, and avoids speaking Arabic in public so as not to attract attention. 'I want to keep myself safe. Political issues affect us more than the economy,' she said.
  • Since 2016, the Turkish army has launched military operations in Syria, battling outlawed Kurdish militants and ISIS extremists.
    Since 2016, the Turkish army has launched military operations in Syria, battling outlawed Kurdish militants and ISIS extremists.
  • Haifa said: 'Some people tell us 'go back to your country, you're having fun while our soldiers are dying there. You think it is easy to leave everything behind you? Your memories, your house, everything. You cannot even visit your mother or father's grave.'
    Haifa said: 'Some people tell us 'go back to your country, you're having fun while our soldiers are dying there. You think it is easy to leave everything behind you? Your memories, your house, everything. You cannot even visit your mother or father's grave.'

Turkey regularly carries out cross-border air strikes, often with armed drones, in neighbouring Iraq and Syria as part of its offensive against Kurdish militants based there.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) launched an insurgency against the Turkish state in 1984 that has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The PKK is regarded as a terrorist group by Turkey, the US and the EU.

Turkey said on Sunday it had "neutralised", the term its defence ministry usually employs for killed, about 30 PKK members in cross-border operations in Iraq and Syria.

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

Company%20profile
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WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Neil Thomson – THE BIO

Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.

Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.

Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.

Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.

Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.

Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
if you go

The flights

Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com

Seeing the games

Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com

 

Staying there

Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com

 

The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

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

TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

MATCH INFO

Bangla Tigers 108-5 (10 ovs)

Ingram 37, Rossouw 26, Pretorius 2-10

Deccan Gladiators 109-4 (9.5 ovs)

Watson 41, Devcich 27, Wiese 2-15

Gladiators win by six wickets

Updated: October 07, 2022, 1:22 PM