Weeks of brinkmanship in the east of Ukraine have now turned into what was before then unthinkable to many. Russia, the country with the highest number of nuclear warheads, has launched what appears to be an invasion of the interior of Ukraine. After just one day of fighting there is no longer any doubt that Europe has descended into potentially the most dangerous conflict since the Second World War.
The world is still far from a return to the level of bloodshed seen in the early 20th century, and these terrible developments have rightly resulted in intense calls for de-escalation and diplomacy. But making a loud-enough case for restraint will not be easy. A horrible effect of war, borne out by history, is that it immediately makes interstate rivalries harder to solve. It is very difficult to call for dialogue once the bombs have started dropping.
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A Ukrainian soldier walks past the shell of a burnt military vehicle, on a street in Kiev. AP -

A screengrab from CCTV footage shows a missile hitting a residential building in Kiev. Reuters -

A man inspects a broken window, after shelling carried out by Russian troops in the Ukrainian capital. Reuters -

Ukrainian soldiers take positions outside a military centre as two cars burn on a street in Kiev. AP -

Medical specialists transport a woman, who was wounded in the shelling of an apartment building, to an ambulance, as her husband looks on. Reuters -

A woman outside her apartment building after it was damaged by a rocket, in Kiev. AP -

A Ukrainian police officer detains a driver on a street in Kiev. AP -

A soldier's helmet with a bullet hole on a street in the Ukrainian capital. AP -

Ukrainian soldiers walk by a damaged vehicle, at the site of fighting with Russian troops, in Kiev. Reuters -

Ukrainian policemen move parrots to safety after a high-rise apartment block was damaged by shelling in Kiev. EPA -

A screengrab from a video shows rescue workers carrying a person at the site of a damaged multi-storey residential building, south-west of the Ukrainian capital. Reuters -

A building damaged by shelling carried out by Russian troops in Kiev. EPA -

Helga Tarasova comforts her daughter Kira Shapovalova as they wait in an underground shelter during a bombing alert in Kiev. AFP -

A man walks past a building damaged by a rocket attack in the Ukrainian capital. AP -

Emergency services workers near an apartment building damaged by shelling in Kiev. Reuters -

Ukrainian soldiers collect unexploded shells in the capital. AFP -

An apartment building damaged by shelling in Kiev. Reuters -

Debris of a burnt military truck on a street in Kiev. AP -

Natali Sevriukova stands next to her home after a rocket attack in Kiev, Ukraine. AP -

People on foot and in cars move to cross from Ukraine to Poland at the Korczowa-Krakovets border crossing following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP -

Servicemen from the Ukrainian National Guard in central Kiev. Reuters -

Ukrainian soldiers in downtown Kiev after Russian troops reached the outskirts of the capital. AP Photo -

Police officers detain demonstrators in St. Petersburg, Russia. Hundreds of people gathered in Moscow and St. Petersburg on Thursday, protesting against Russia's attack on Ukraine. Similar protests took place in other Russian cities, and activists were also arrested. AP Photo -

Hungarian troops in Vasarosnameny, close to the border with Ukraine, prepare to help refugees. AP Photo -

Wrecked Russian army rocket launchers in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Reuters -

The aftermath of a rocket attack in Kiev. AP Photo -

A US Air Force jet refuels over Poland. Reuters -

Devastation after shelling in Ukraine's Luhansk enclave. Reuters -

The Royal Welsh Battlegroup from the UK makes its way to Estonia. Reuters -

Firefighters tackle a blaze in a building in Kiev. AFP -

The wreckage of an unidentified aircraft in a residential area in Kiev. Reuters -

Smoke rises near the Ukrainian Defence Ministry in Kiev. Reuters -

Russian military helicopters fly over the Ukrainian capital. AP -

An anxious wait to board a train to leave Kiev as the attack loomed. AP Photo -

Ukrainian servicemen on tanks in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine. AP Photo -

Ukraine troops said this destroyed armoured vehicle outside Kharkiv belonged to the Russian army. Reuters -

Rescuers at the crash site after a Ukraine armed forces Antonov aircraft was shot down in Kiev, according to the Ukrainian authorities. Reuters -

Ukrainian tanks that aim to repel an attack by the Russian military in the Luhansk enclave of Ukraine. AFP -
A Ukrainian State Border Guard Service base is ablaze after heavy shelling near Kiev. Reuters -

Damaged radar at a Ukrainian military plant outside Mariupol. Officials in Kiev say Russian troops have rolled into the country from the north, east and south. AP Photo -

Firefighters attend a blaze after bombing in the eastern Ukrainian town of Chuguiv, as Russian armed forces appeared to be bombarding Ukraine from several directions. AFP -

A traffic jam in Kiev, with many Ukrainians leaving their capital after Russian troops entered. EPA -

The Border Service of Ukraine released CCTV footage purporting to show Russian military vehicles passing a checkpoint to drive into Crimea. AP -

A man picks up fragments of military materiel on the street after an apparent Russian strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP -

Workers load the debris of a rocket on to a lorry in the aftermath of Russian shelling in Kiev. AP -

Emergency staff treat an injured man after bombing in Chuguiv. AFP -

An American woman in distress after crossing the border to flee the violence in Ukraine, in Medyka, Poland. Reuters -

People take shelter in a Kiev subway station, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine. Reuters -

People in a rush near Kiev-Pasazhyrskyi railway station in the Ukrainian capital. AFP -

A Flightradar24.com screengrab shows a dearth of civilian aircraft in Ukrainian airspace after the Russian invasion. AP -

The aftermath of bombing in Chuguiv. AFP -

A Ukrainian rocket launcher vehicle prepares for action. Reuters -

Cars are driven across a field to leave the city of Kharkiv. Reuters -

People chant, carry placards and wave Ukrainian flags as they gather in Sydney, to demonstrate against Russian attacks on its neighbour. AP -

People with many of their belongings packed take shelter in a Metro station in Kiev. AFP -
Emergency services at the scene of an explosion at a military unit building in Kiev. EPA -

A Kiev resident sweeps up debris after Russian shelling. AP -

The first 40 soldiers of the 173rd US Army Airborne Brigade step off a military plane in Latvia. EPA -

More damage from shelling in Kiev. AP -

People wait at a bus station to travel to western parts of Ukraine, after violence in the east. Reuters -

A woman carries her cats in a quest for a safe haven. AFP -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds an urgent government meeting in Kiev to discuss the next step. AFP -

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and foreign policy chief Josep Borrell give a joint statement in Brussels, updating the press about the situation in Ukraine. EPA -

People survey the damage after bombing in Chuguiv. AFP -

A building on fire in Chuguiv. AFP
Even ascertaining the truth that forms a basis for negotiations becomes difficult to find. As US Senator Hiram Warren Johnson said during the First World War, "the first casualty of war is the truth". We do not know the true extent of today's and yesterday's losses, and uncovering them will be difficult in a conflict in which misinformation has proven a key weapon.
One of the few early certainties is that the international community is almost unanimous in its calls for peace. In one of the most severe remarks in his tenure, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres used social media to implore: "Under the present circumstances, I must change my appeal: President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia. This conflict must stop now.”
Such direct statements are warranted. Many thousands of lives are on the line with no immediate clear end in sight to the crisis. Thoughts must now must be with those most in danger. If long-term diplomacy has failed in this instance, emergency aid does not have to. As roads out of Ukraine's capital are log-jammed with people trying to flee, neighbouring countries should be willing to open their doors to what could well become another refugee crisis for the continent. Germany has already pledged to help its Eastern European neighbours in the event of an influx. Countries that are not directly affected by the huge movement of people should understand this is more than Europe's problem, but a humanitarian one in which the entire international community should chip in.
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A woman holds a placard during a protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. EPA -

People carry Ukrainian flags and signs reading 'Stop War' and 'Stop Russia' as they protest at the Russian embassy in the Hague, the Netherlands. EPA -

Ukrainians hold a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine outside Downing Street in London. PA -

A woman takes part in an anti-war protest in front of the Russian embassy in Paris. AFP -

Demonstrators in front of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vienna. AFP -

A protest outside the Russian embassy in the Netherlands. AFP -

People wear the Ukrainian national flag during a protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. EPA -

A woman holds a placard as people protest outside the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Madrid, Spain. EPA -

Ukrainian citizens protest in front of the Russian embassy in Paris. AFP -

Demonstrators with Ukrainian flags in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. AFP -

A protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine outside the Russian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. EPA -

A demonstrator in front of the German Chancellery in Berlin. AFP
And while it will be tested in the upcoming weeks, a sense of global resolve for solidarity and a peaceful way out is there. A statement by Kenya's ambassador to the UN has gone viral – he draws on the coexistence of diversity and broad peace found across Africa’s borders, in spite of them having been drawn up by colonial powers, to build a case against the invasion of sovereign Ukraine. The crisis is reminding the whole world, not just the West, of the value of self-determination, global solidarity and the international order.
This awareness is perhaps even more acute in a world that has been dealing with the pandemic, another global crisis solvable only through co-operation. What is particularly tragic about the situation in Ukraine, however, is that it was much easier to prevent than any pandemic.
And while it will be a lot harder to put a full stop to it now, it is still possible. A monumental change hit Europe on Thursday. Another is needed, in the form of a swift retreat from the battlefield towards the negotiating table.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
The specs
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Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
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The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019
December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'
JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.
“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”
November 26: ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’
SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue.
SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."
October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'
MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.
“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December."
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
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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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
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
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 523hp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh469,000
Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
Teaching in coronavirus times
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Race card
1.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
3pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1.950m
3.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Specs
ASHES FIXTURES
1st Test: Brisbane, Nov 23-27
2nd Test: Adelaide, Dec 2-6
3rd Test: Perth, Dec 14-18
4th Test: Melbourne, Dec 26-30
5th Test: Sydney, Jan 4-8
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Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
4.5/5
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
Dunki
Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)


