Lotus-Renault make shortlist to replace Robert Kubica


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Lotus-Renault appear to have arrived at a shortlist of three names to drive in place of Robert Kubica this season.

The 26-year-old Pole's motorsport career remains in the balance despite encouraging progress in his recovery from serious injuries sustained on Sunday, when his right hand was partially severed in an accident on the Ronde di Andora Rally.

A raft of names have been floated as possibilities to race in his stead, with the chances of him taking any part in this Formula One season seemingly minimal.

One eye-catching possibility would have been a return to the sport for former champion Kimi Raikkonen, but Lotus-Renault appear to have settled on Bruno Senna, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Nick Heidfeld as their three preferred options.

Team principal Eric Boullier was quoted on www.telegraph.co.uk as saying: "We will look for Kubica's substitute: the names considered are Senna, Liuzzi and Heidfeld."

Senna is one of the team's two reserve drivers, while Liuzzi and Heidfeld are without a drive this season.

Boullier also defended the team's decision to allow Kubica to go rallying so close to the start of the F1 season, a decision which has attracted criticism in some quarters.

He said: "The team is close to Robert, we wait for him with open arms. It was Robert's choice, he wanted to go rallying at all costs and Renault authorised it.

"Now we just wait to know what the recovery time is for our driver."

Kubica underwent more than seven hours of surgery after Sunday's crash and remains in intensive care at the Santa Corona Hospital in northern Italy.

He faces at least two more operations, the first of which, to stabilise fractures to his right shoulder and right foot, is scheduled for Thursday.

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Manchester United 2

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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

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There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

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