For the first time in 1,057 days and 18 games, Papua New Guinea were able to celebrate victory in a one-day international, after they outplayed UAE in Dubai.
Alei Nao was named player of the match after his four-wicket burst with the new ball laid the platform for their six-wicket win in the Cricket World Cup League 2.
It was a first win, in their 15th game in a competition that forms part of the qualifying process for the 2023 World Cup in India. It was also their first of any description in the format since they beat United States in Namibia in April 2019.
Assad Vala, their captain, scored the winning runs as the tourists hauled in their target of 148 with almost 14 overs to spare.
“I’m really happy because we played some really good cricket over the past two games,” said Vala, who top scored with 68 not out for PNG.
“It has been a long time, 14 games [in the World Cup League 2] to get the win, but we are really happy. It doesn’t matter how we got our first win, but now we have and we will take that.”
It was the second time in as many days that UAE’s top order had succumbed after having first use of the pitch at Dubai International Stadium.
Whereas they had managed to defend the 168 they had posted a day earlier in a thrilling win over Nepal, this time the 147 they made never threatened to be enough.
They only reached that much thanks to a courageous rearguard from Rohan Mustafa. The all-rounder made 88 before he was caught off the final ball of the innings.
It was full of intelligence, most notably during a stand for the last wicket worth 70 with Zahoor Khan. Zahoor, the No 11, contributed a mere two to the partnership.
Ahmed Raza, the UAE captain, said Mustafa had set an example his fellow batters need to follow.
“There were not enough runs to defend, and it is going to be very rare for a team to defend 160-odd for two days on the trot,” Raza said.
“I feel like a broken record in that I keep going on about the batting. I still don’t think there was anything in the wicket. [PNG] bowled well, they bowled the right channel, but we have to find a way to score runs.
“Rohan showed that. He proved it wasn’t a very hard wicket to bat on, it was just about application. Then you can express yourself later on in the innings.”
Earlier on, Alei Nao had been rewarded for his accuracy with the new ball, and he eventually finished with four for 27 from the 10 overs he sent down.
“It is good to come back into the team and do well after missing the first game of the series [which PNG had lost to UAE],” Nao said.
“I have had lots of injury problems over the past four years, but today I was able to show what I could do.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
More on animal trafficking
More on Quran memorisation:
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
