• A meeting of the University of Sao Paulo Collective in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The collective invited all citizens, social and democratic entities, parties and movements to speak out against supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro who attacked government institutions in Brasilia on Sunday. EPA
    A meeting of the University of Sao Paulo Collective in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The collective invited all citizens, social and democratic entities, parties and movements to speak out against supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro who attacked government institutions in Brasilia on Sunday. EPA
  • Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets government ministers and other officials following the riot. Getty Images
    Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets government ministers and other officials following the riot. Getty Images
  • Workers clear debris left by pro-Bolsonaro supporters during the riot. Getty
    Workers clear debris left by pro-Bolsonaro supporters during the riot. Getty
  • Damaged portraits hang in the Brazilian National Congress after the riot, in which more than 1,200 people were detained. Getty
    Damaged portraits hang in the Brazilian National Congress after the riot, in which more than 1,200 people were detained. Getty
  • Damage to the Brazilian National Congress following the riot. Getty
    Damage to the Brazilian National Congress following the riot. Getty
  • Workers clear debris after the riot. Getty
    Workers clear debris after the riot. Getty
  • Mr da Silva has called for peace after what he described as a coup attempt. Getty
    Mr da Silva has called for peace after what he described as a coup attempt. Getty
  • Damage to the Brazilian National Congress caused by the riot. Getty
    Damage to the Brazilian National Congress caused by the riot. Getty
  • Agents inspect a room inside Planalto Palace, the office of the President. AP
    Agents inspect a room inside Planalto Palace, the office of the President. AP
  • Photos of former Brazilian presidents lay scattered on the floor of the lobby of Planalto Palace. AP
    Photos of former Brazilian presidents lay scattered on the floor of the lobby of Planalto Palace. AP
  • Supporters of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia. Protesters pushed through police barricades and stormed into the Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court buildings on Sunday. Reuters
    Supporters of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia. Protesters pushed through police barricades and stormed into the Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court buildings on Sunday. Reuters
  • Bolsonaro supporters are detained. Reuters
    Bolsonaro supporters are detained. Reuters
  • The security forces take action as supporters of Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate outside Brazil’s National Congress building in Brasilia. Reuters
    The security forces take action as supporters of Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate outside Brazil’s National Congress building in Brasilia. Reuters
  • Brazil's Supreme Court building was one of those attacked. AFP
    Brazil's Supreme Court building was one of those attacked. AFP
  • President Lula da Silva in the presidential palace after it was stormed by supporters of Jair Bolsonaro. AP
    President Lula da Silva in the presidential palace after it was stormed by supporters of Jair Bolsonaro. AP
  • Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro invading several governmental building are confronted by the security forces in Brasilia. AFP
    Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro invading several governmental building are confronted by the security forces in Brasilia. AFP
  • Members of the security forces confront Bolsonaro supporters. AFP
    Members of the security forces confront Bolsonaro supporters. AFP
  • The scenes were reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol building by supporters of then-president Donald Trump, an ally of Mr Bolsonaro. Reuters
    The scenes were reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol building by supporters of then-president Donald Trump, an ally of Mr Bolsonaro. Reuters
  • The security forces make arrests. AFP
    The security forces make arrests. AFP
  • A supporter of Jair Bolsonaro inside the presidential palace. Reuters
    A supporter of Jair Bolsonaro inside the presidential palace. Reuters
  • Hundreds of Bolsonaro backers have refused to accept leftist Mr da Silva's election victory. Reuters
    Hundreds of Bolsonaro backers have refused to accept leftist Mr da Silva's election victory. Reuters
  • Some of the demonstrators ransacked offices and smashed windows. Reuters
    Some of the demonstrators ransacked offices and smashed windows. Reuters
  • Police confront supporters of Jair Bolsonaro invading the presidential palace. EPA
    Police confront supporters of Jair Bolsonaro invading the presidential palace. EPA
  • Some Bolsonao supporters ransacked offices and caused damage. Reuters
    Some Bolsonao supporters ransacked offices and caused damage. Reuters
  • A police vehicle crashes into a fountain as Bolsonaro supporters invade the National Congress building. AFP
    A police vehicle crashes into a fountain as Bolsonaro supporters invade the National Congress building. AFP
  • Startling images on social media showed a tide of people storming the national Congress, many waving Brazilian flags. AFP
    Startling images on social media showed a tide of people storming the national Congress, many waving Brazilian flags. AFP

World leaders condemn pro-Bolsonaro riots in Brazil


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Russia, the US, the EU, the UK, India and other countries condemned riots by supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro that left a trail of destruction around public buildings on Sunday.

US President Joe Biden denounced “the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power” in the South American nation.

“Brazil's democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined,” Mr Biden wrote in a tweet hours after the riots began. “I look forward to continuing to work with @LulaOficial.”

Brazil's Supreme Court called the demonstrators “terrorists” after they stormed the national Congress, the presidential palace and the Supreme Court building in support of Mr Bolsonaro, who was defeated by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula.

Mr Bolsonaro has yet to concede to Mr da Silva, who was inaugurated last week.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow condemned "in the strongest terms" the rioter's actions, adding that Russia backed Mr da Silva.

EU policy chief Josep Borrell said he was “appalled” at the actions by “violent extremists”.

“Full support to Lula and his government, to Congress and to the Federal Supreme Court. Brazilian democracy will prevail over violence and extremism,” he said.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called the actions “unjustifiable”.

Similarly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the respect of “democratic traditions”.

“We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities,” Mr Modi said.

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed Mr Modi and said Mr da Silva could “count on France's unwavering support”.

Cuba, Spain, Costa Rica, Italy, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Portugal and Mexico also backed Mr da Silva and condemned Sunday's events.

Authorities say at least 170 people have been arrested so far.

Mr da Silva accused Mr Bolsonaro of inciting the violence through public speeches. Mr Bolsonaro rejected the accusation and distanced himself from Sunday's actions, calling them “undemocratic”.

No casualties have been reported so far but some protesters told AFP that they would return to the scene, calling for a “military intervention”.

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.

The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21

  1. Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
  2. Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
  3. Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
  4. Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
  5. Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
  6. Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
  7. Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
  8. Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
The specs

Engine: 5.2-litre V10

Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm

Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: From Dh1 million

On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022 

Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

Match info

Uefa Champions League Group B

Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Eriksen 80')
Inter Milan 0

Notable Yas events in 2017/18

October 13-14 KartZone (complimentary trials)

December 14-16 The Gulf 12 Hours Endurance race

March 5 Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro event

March 8-9 UAE Rotax Max Challenge

FIXTURES (all times UAE)

Sunday
Brescia v Lazio (3.30pm)
SPAL v Verona (6pm)
Genoa v Sassuolo (9pm)
AS Roma v Torino (11.45pm)

Monday
Bologna v Fiorentina (3.30pm)
AC Milan v Sampdoria (6pm)
Juventus v Cagliari (6pm)
Atalanta v Parma (6pm)
Lecce v Udinese (9pm)
Napoli v Inter Milan (11.45pm)

Updated: January 09, 2023, 11:06 AM