• People gather during a protest for justice after a girl Noor Mukadam, was murdered in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
    People gather during a protest for justice after a girl Noor Mukadam, was murdered in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
  • People gather during a protest for justice after a girl Noor Mukadam, was murdered in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
    People gather during a protest for justice after a girl Noor Mukadam, was murdered in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA
  • People carry signs against the killing of Noor Mukadam, 27, daughter of former Pakistani diplomat, and to condemn the violence against women and girls during a protest in Karachi, Pakistan. Reuters
    People carry signs against the killing of Noor Mukadam, 27, daughter of former Pakistani diplomat, and to condemn the violence against women and girls during a protest in Karachi, Pakistan. Reuters
  • Women rights activists light candles at a park in Islamabad, against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of former Pakistan envoy to South Korea, in the federal capital earlier this week. AFP
    Women rights activists light candles at a park in Islamabad, against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of former Pakistan envoy to South Korea, in the federal capital earlier this week. AFP
  • Women rights activists hold placards during a demonstration in Lahore, against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of former Pakistan envoy to South Korea, in the federal capital earlier this week. AFP
    Women rights activists hold placards during a demonstration in Lahore, against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of former Pakistan envoy to South Korea, in the federal capital earlier this week. AFP
  • Women rights activists hold placards during a protest rally against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat who was found murdered at a house in Pakistan's capital on July 20, in Islamabad. AFP
    Women rights activists hold placards during a protest rally against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat who was found murdered at a house in Pakistan's capital on July 20, in Islamabad. AFP
  • Women rights activists hold placards and candles during a protest rally against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat who was found murdered at a house in Pakistan's capital on July 20, in Islamabad. AFP
    Women rights activists hold placards and candles during a protest rally against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat who was found murdered at a house in Pakistan's capital on July 20, in Islamabad. AFP
  • Women rights activists hold placards and candles during a protest rally against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat who was found murdered at a house in Pakistan's capital. AFP
    Women rights activists hold placards and candles during a protest rally against the brutal killing of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat who was found murdered at a house in Pakistan's capital. AFP

Noor Mukadam case: Zahir Jaffer to hang in Pakistan for beheading woman at his mansion


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The scion of a wealthy industrialist family has been sentenced to hang for the murder of a young woman that shocked Pakistan and campaigners said highlighted the country's appalling level of violence against women.

Zahir Jaffer raped, tortured and finally beheaded Noor Mukadam at his Islamabad mansion.

Mukadam, who was the daughter of a former ambassador, made several attempts to escape from Jaffer's home before her death, but was blocked by household staff. Jaffer's parents were later accused of trying to cover up the crime.

"The main accused has been awarded the death sentence," judge Atta Rabbani told Islamabad district court.

The parents of Jaffer, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, were found not guilty of attempting to cover up the crime. Two staff members, a gardener and a watchman, were sentenced to 10 years in prison for abetting murder.

The prosecution alleged that Jaffer, 30, had a long-running friendship with Mukadam, 27, but she rejected his romantic advances. They said Mukadam leapt from a window at Jaffer's home after he refused to accept her rejection, but he ordered his staff to capture her before he killed her.

The horrific details of Mukadam's death sickened Pakistan, while campaigners said the crime underlined widespread violence against women even among the nation's wealthiest classes.

Mukadam's father hailed the verdict as a victory. He told reporters outside court: “An exemplary punishment has been given to the primary accused.

"Everyone was praying [for justice]. The whole nation and world were with us," he said.

Campaigners say that violence against women is rife in Pakistan. Yet victims are often afraid to speak out, criminal complaints are not investigated seriously, or victims are blamed for their actions. Cases that do proceed can drag on for years in the notoriously overburdened justice system.

Noor Mukadam was murdered last year. Twitter
Noor Mukadam was murdered last year. Twitter

Jaffer will be able to appeal against Thursday's verdict. During his four-month trial his defence team at one point implied that Mukadam had been killed by her own family for conducting a relationship outside marriage. His lawyers also argued that he was mentally ill and he was frequently carried into proceedings on a stretcher or in a wheelchair.

Sania Ashiq, a member of the Punjab Assembly, said the death sentence would “bring some confidence back into the system for women across Pakistan”.

She said: “Hanging Noor Mukadam's murderer is a start, working together to make all girls safe can be the real justice for her.”

Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a senior leader in the opposition PML-N party, said: “The wounds Noor Mukadam’s rape and murder inflicted on the collective conscience of humanity may never heal, but it is reassuring that beasts in human disguise will realise that consequences can be grave.”

Medicus AI

Started: 2016

Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh

Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai

Sector: Health Tech

Staff: 119

Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)

 

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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WISH
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Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

 

 

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Homie%20Portal%20LLC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20End%20of%202021%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdulla%20Al%20Kamda%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2014%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELaunch%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Updated: February 24, 2022, 2:55 PM