Usain Bolt is happy with his condition in the leadup to August’s world championships and will not be denied more sprint gold by American Justin Gatlin, according to his coach Glen Mills.
“We take all competitors with a level of seriousness and I don’t see Gatlin as a joke, but the truth of the matter is Usain at his best doesn’t have much to worry about,” Mills told Reuters in an interview.
Jamaican Bolt will bid for a third 100 metres gold and a fourth 200m gold in succession at the August 22-30 meeting in Beijing.
In Bolt’s absence, Gatlin dominated the Diamond League last season, ending the year as world leader in the 100 and 200m with personal best times of 9.77 and 19.68 seconds respectively.
“It’s good for the sport and creates the kind of interest, but those kinds of things don’t affect us in any way because Usain and myself knows what we can get him to do when he’s fully fit and ready and that’s what we’re working to do,” said Mills, who has guided Bolt since 2005.
“When we are ready and he’s peaked then let’s hear the shout, ‘I’m sure it will be Usain Bolt’.”
The 100 and 200m world record holder, Bolt won both events at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Having taken time off last year, the 28-year-old told Reuters he was looking to set quick times this season.
“I always try to wait until I run my first race,” to set targets, he said, “but for me the aim is always to go to the championship and to defend my titles.
“But I want to run really fast this season so I’m working on it.”
Mills said Bolt had stepped up his preparation since running 46.37 seconds over 400m on March 14 in Kingston.
“He has made significant strides since the last time you saw him,” he said.
“He’s down to compete in Brazil in another two weeks and he’s getting into the kind of competitive shape that he’ll be able to perform to the kind of levels that we know he’s capable of doing.”
Bolt, who will compete on wildcard entries in Beijing, was also satisfied with his condition as he gears up for his April 19 race in Rio de Janeiro, the host city for next year’s summer Olympics where he will be expected to defend his titles.
His schedule also includes Diamond League meetings in New York, Paris and Lausanne before Beijing.
“I’m happy with where I’m at, I’m doing a lot of work leading up to this first run in Brazil ... that’s the focus right and that’s what we’re working towards,” said Bolt, who posted a picture of himself training on Easter Monday on his social media accounts.
Bolt could also appear at Jamaica’s national trials between June 25 and 28 in Kingston.
“He didn’t compete that much last year, he did very little, and in preparing for the world championships we’re trying to get him a fair amount of competition in pointing him in that direction,” Mills said.
“We have a number of international races lined up before the trials and his progress in those meets will determine whether or not he needs to run the trials, but it’s not off the table.”
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
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
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LIGUE 1 FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Nice v Angers (9pm)
Lille v Monaco (10.45pm)
Saturday
Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7pm)
Bordeaux v Guingamp (10pm)
Caen v Amiens (10pm)
Lyon v Dijon (10pm)
Metz v Troyes (10pm)
Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Rennes (5pm)
Strasbourg v Nantes (7pm)
Marseille v Toulouse (11pm)
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
