For someone as opinionated as M.I.A, her previous album, 2016's Aim, was a charmless affair.
At the time, the British-Sri Lankan rapper and singer, full name Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, faced a fork in the road and couldn’t reconcile her trailblazing experimental approach with her increasing pop-friendly sounds that earned admiration from the likes of Madonna and Nicki Minaj.
As a result, much of Aim, with the exception of strong single Borders, sounded lost.
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In that sense, M.I.A. was right to take time off to recalibrate.
Her comeback effort, Mata, is an invigorating effort that brings both strands together and ultimately recaptures some of the spark.
At under 40 minutes, it is a lean and vibrant mix of global sounds filtered through M.I.A.’s idiosyncratic song-writing.
This means electronic bleats clash and at times blend with choral vocals, South-East Asian percussion and some fierce Tamil rapping.
F.I.A.S.O.M. (Freedom Is a State of Mind) is a brilliant opener with its intoxicating mix of horns, Bhangra-style beats and sampled vocals.
Hovering over that frenetic production is an an ethereal sounding M.I.A. declaring: "I don’t care if people don’t like me / If you’re lookin’, you know where to find me."
Zoo Girl is another whirlwind of a mix. It is powered by bass rumbling trap production and laced with woozy keyboards and chanting backing vocals.
The thumping Energy Freq, meanwhile, built on a sensual vocal loop from a Tamil film, could be this generation's version of Punjabi MC's 2002 hit Mundian To Bach Ke.
While Mata is a thoroughly propulsive affair, the beats cloak some of the insecurity M.I.A. expresses in the lyrics.
In the summery The One she is brimming with confidence as she acknowledges her success and stature, while in Zoo Girl it sounds as if she is trying to convince herself of her talent.
"This time I’m gonna have way more bite,” she raps. “Put a voice to the mic, make a beat real tight. I still got fight, I still got vision. I still got sight, my brain's still bright"
Indeed, with Mata, M.I.A. rediscovers her mojo and shows she still has plenty to say.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Frida%20
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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
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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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