• A volcano spews lava and smoke as it erupts in Grindavik, Iceland. Reuters
    A volcano spews lava and smoke as it erupts in Grindavik, Iceland. Reuters
  • A supporter of Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leader of the Union of Democracy and Social Progress party, at a campaign rally at Sainte Therese, in the Ndjili district of Kinshasa. AFP
    A supporter of Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leader of the Union of Democracy and Social Progress party, at a campaign rally at Sainte Therese, in the Ndjili district of Kinshasa. AFP
  • A burnt out railway carriage allegedly set on fire by opposition activists, in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. At least four people were killed in the blaze. AFP
    A burnt out railway carriage allegedly set on fire by opposition activists, in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. At least four people were killed in the blaze. AFP
  • An image of the Earth taken by a camera installed on a North Korean Hwasongpho-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, during a test launch. AFP
    An image of the Earth taken by a camera installed on a North Korean Hwasongpho-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, during a test launch. AFP
  • Spanish police officer Eduardo Rodriguez, known as Edu Balboa, waves at a young patient while dressed as Spiderman, after dropping in at the Materno Infantil hospital in Malaga, Spain. Reuters
    Spanish police officer Eduardo Rodriguez, known as Edu Balboa, waves at a young patient while dressed as Spiderman, after dropping in at the Materno Infantil hospital in Malaga, Spain. Reuters
  • Residents prepare to return to flooded areas in Cairns, north-eastern Australia, after raging waters submerged roads and brought crocodiles into towns. AFP
    Residents prepare to return to flooded areas in Cairns, north-eastern Australia, after raging waters submerged roads and brought crocodiles into towns. AFP
  • Worshippers at the door of the Kaaba during their Umrah, at the Grand Mosque in the holy Saudi city of Makkah. Reuters
    Worshippers at the door of the Kaaba during their Umrah, at the Grand Mosque in the holy Saudi city of Makkah. Reuters
  • A Rohingya refugee woman and child at a temporary camp on Sabang island, in Indonesia's Aceh province. AFP
    A Rohingya refugee woman and child at a temporary camp on Sabang island, in Indonesia's Aceh province. AFP
  • Migrants cross the Rio Bravo from Ciudad Juarez in Mexico into the US, to request asylum. Reuters
    Migrants cross the Rio Bravo from Ciudad Juarez in Mexico into the US, to request asylum. Reuters
  • A cook prepares harissa, a traditional Kashmiri meat and rice dish, on a cold winter's morning in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. EPA
    A cook prepares harissa, a traditional Kashmiri meat and rice dish, on a cold winter's morning in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. EPA

Today's best photos: From a volcano in Iceland to harissa in Kashmir


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More from The National:

Monday's best photos: From Whirling dervishes to German farmers

Sunday's best photos: From Foggy morning in Iraq to Chhayanaut group perform in Bangladesh

Saturday's best photos: From starlings flying over Somerset to abandoned trains in Bolivia

Friday's best photos: From ski jumping in Switzerland to virtual reality in Hungary

Thursday's best photos: From pyramids in Abu Dhabi to smog in Lahore

Wednesday's best photos: From the UN General Assembly to Cop28

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

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ENGLAND SQUAD

Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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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Dunki
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The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster

Price, base: Dh708,750

Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power: 374hp (total)

Torque: 570Nm (total)

Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km

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SQUAD

Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

Updated: December 19, 2023, 10:34 AM