• Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita speaks during the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Marrakesh. AFP
    Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita speaks during the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Marrakesh. AFP
  • Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland represented the US at the meeting. AFP
    Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland represented the US at the meeting. AFP
  • French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian listens to delegates. AFP
    French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian listens to delegates. AFP
  • Mr Bourita receives Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. AFP
    Mr Bourita receives Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. AFP
  • Delegates pose for a group photo before their meeting in Marrakesh. AFP
    Delegates pose for a group photo before their meeting in Marrakesh. AFP
  • Mr Bourita receives Ms Nuland. AFP
    Mr Bourita receives Ms Nuland. AFP
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the ministerial meeting. AFP
    Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the ministerial meeting. AFP
  • Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein at the meeting. AFP
    Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein at the meeting. AFP

Anti-ISIS coalition meets on countering extremist group's revival


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The global coalition against ISIS gathered on Wednesday in Morocco to co-ordinate efforts to prevent the extremists from staging a revival in the Middle East and North Africa.

Coalition members "reaffirmed their shared determination to continue the fight against ISIS through both military and civilian-led efforts contributing to the enduring defeat of the terrorist group", a joint statement from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita read.

Mr Blinken was to co-host the meeting with Mr Bourita but he tested positive for Covid-19 and was replaced by senior diplomat Victoria Nuland.

Senior officials from dozens of other countries are also attending the meeting, which is taking place under high security at a luxury hotel in Marrakech.

Ms Nuland said the group was committed to the "enduring defeat" of ISIS.

"Over the last several years, ISIS has been considerably weakened in Iraq and Syria, but it remains a threat, seeking any opportunity to reconstitute itself," she said.

Mr Bourita said the threat posed by ISIS had "not diminished" and that the coalition sought to raise $700 million for "stabilisation activities" in parts of Iraq and Syria formerly held by the group.

The discussions were to cover "stabilisation efforts in areas previously impacted" by ISIS, strategic communication against the group's "radicalisation propaganda" and the battle against foreign fighters, the Moroccan foreign ministry said.

The meeting comes three years after the coalition helped Syrian fighters to crush the "caliphate" ISIS had proclaimed in Iraq and Syria and as the extremists step up their efforts to bolster their presence in the Sahel and West Africa.

"The ministers affirmed that ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria remains the number one priority for the Defeat ISIS Coalition," the joint statement read.

The Global Coalition against ISIS was formed in 2014 after the militants seized huge parts of Iraq and Syria. It now includes 84 states and international organisations.

Officials have long said that ISIS still poses a worldwide threat despite its loss of a territorial base.

In January, ISIS fighters launched their biggest assault in years - a prison break in the north-east Kurdish-controlled Syrian city of Hasakeh, sparking a week of intense fighting that left hundreds dead.

  • American soldiers deploy in Hassakeh, Syria. After breaking into the prison late Thursday, ISIS militants were joined by others rioting inside the facility that houses more than 3,000 inmates, including children. AP
    American soldiers deploy in Hassakeh, Syria. After breaking into the prison late Thursday, ISIS militants were joined by others rioting inside the facility that houses more than 3,000 inmates, including children. AP
  • An American soldier takes a break. AP
    An American soldier takes a break. AP
  • A soldier with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces stands guard in Hassakeh. AP
    A soldier with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces stands guard in Hassakeh. AP
  • A soldier carries out safety checks. AP
    A soldier carries out safety checks. AP
  • Syrians, who left their homes following attacks on Ghweran and Al Shaddadi prisons by ISIS militants, take shelter at a mosque in Hasaka town, north-east Syria. EPA
    Syrians, who left their homes following attacks on Ghweran and Al Shaddadi prisons by ISIS militants, take shelter at a mosque in Hasaka town, north-east Syria. EPA
  • Displaced children play games in the mosque. EPA
    Displaced children play games in the mosque. EPA
  • A little girl sits on her mother's lap inside the mosque after leaving their home. EPA
    A little girl sits on her mother's lap inside the mosque after leaving their home. EPA
  • This man also left his home and belongings behind and headed to north-east Syria with his family. EPA
    This man also left his home and belongings behind and headed to north-east Syria with his family. EPA
  • Among the worry and despair, there are also smiles. EPA
    Among the worry and despair, there are also smiles. EPA
  • Children group together to keep warm as winter temperatures plummet. EPA
    Children group together to keep warm as winter temperatures plummet. EPA
  • Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces patrol Ghwayran prison in Hasakeh. AFP
    Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces patrol Ghwayran prison in Hasakeh. AFP
  • Syrian women play with their children after reaching the mosque. EPA
    Syrian women play with their children after reaching the mosque. EPA
  • Soldiers patrol Hasakeh town. AFP
    Soldiers patrol Hasakeh town. AFP

Ms Nuland called the attack "a reminder of their intent and a wake-up call about how untenable the current situation is in north-east Syria".

ISIS has vowed to take revenge for the death of its leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, who blew himself up during a US raid in northern Syria in late 2019. It has also urged its supporters to take advantage of the war in Ukraine to carry out attacks in Europe.

AFP contributed reporting

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

The design

The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.

More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.

The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.

The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.

A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.

Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.

Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.

Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.

 From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.

Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019. 

Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.

Abu Dhabi traffic facts

Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road

The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.

Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.

The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.

The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.

Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019

 

In numbers

1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:

  • 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
  • 150 tonnes to landfill
  • 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal

800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal

Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year

25 staff on site

 

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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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Updated: May 11, 2022, 7:36 PM