Sport

Carpenter and relievers edge out Brewers

Chris Carpenter got plenty of help from the St Louis bullpen as the Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series with a 4-3 win over Milwaukee.

Associated Press

October 14, 2011

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ST LOUIS, Missouri // Chris Carpenter matched a franchise record set by Bob Gibson with a most un-Gibson-like outing.

Far from his best, the St Louis Cardinals' ace pitcher lasted just five innings in a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night that gave St Louis a 2-1 edge in the National League Championship Series.

Four relievers made the Cardinals' one-run lead stand up by retiring the last 12 Milwaukee batters in order.

"My stuff was OK, but these guys worked me hard," Carpenter said after winning his seventh post-season game to match the team record set by Gibson.

"All night long it was a battle. Our bullpen did a phenomenal job to finish it out and we win, and that's what's important."

Albert Pujols had one of three run-scoring doubles during a four-run first inning against Yovani Gallardo. That turned out to be enough, thanks to relievers Fernando Salas, Lance Lynn, Marc Rzepczynski and Jason Motte, who struck out three of the four batters he faced in the ninth inning for the save.

"They've been great - we wouldn't be here without them," Lance Berkman said. "Over the course of the regular season they got a lot of blame when things went wrong.

"Now, they need to get a lot of credit."

Yuniesky Betancourt's infield single with one out in the fourth was the last of the Brewers' six hits.

The Brewers have lost eight in a row on the road in the post-season, a stretch that extends to Game 1 of the 1982 World Series. It is the longest current streak in the majors.

"I still feel good with our club," said Ron Roenicke, the Milwaukee manager. "This is a good club we're playing and, you know, when you make mistakes like we did the first inning, they were going to get their hits."

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

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 five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

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The biog

Most memorable achievement: Leading my first city-wide charity campaign in Toronto holds a special place in my heart. It was for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women program and showed me the power of how communities can come together in the smallest ways to have such wide impact.

Favourite film: Childhood favourite would be Disney’s Jungle Book and classic favourite Gone With The Wind.

Favourite book: To Kill A Mockingbird for a timeless story on justice and courage and Harry Potters for my love of all things magical.

Favourite quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

Favourite food: Dim sum

Favourite place to travel to: Anywhere with natural beauty, wildlife and awe-inspiring sunsets.