• American white pelicans on the island of Petatan in the municipality of Cojumatlan de Regules, Michoacan state, Mexico. AFP
    American white pelicans on the island of Petatan in the municipality of Cojumatlan de Regules, Michoacan state, Mexico. AFP
  • US singer Taylor Swift performs during a concert as part of her Eras World Tour in Sydney. AFP
    US singer Taylor Swift performs during a concert as part of her Eras World Tour in Sydney. AFP
  • Traditional dancers perform during the annual Buddhist Navam procession to mark the Navam Perahera festival in Colombo. AFP
    Traditional dancers perform during the annual Buddhist Navam procession to mark the Navam Perahera festival in Colombo. AFP
  • A spider monkey feeds on fruit packs in ice blocks at the Legends Park Zoo in Huachipa, eastern Lima. AFP
    A spider monkey feeds on fruit packs in ice blocks at the Legends Park Zoo in Huachipa, eastern Lima. AFP
  • People visit the grave of a Ukrainian service member at a military cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
    People visit the grave of a Ukrainian service member at a military cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
  • Firefighters check the facade of a building after a fire, in Valencia, Spain. A fire broke out in a residential building on February 22, leaving four dead and 19 missing. EPA
    Firefighters check the facade of a building after a fire, in Valencia, Spain. A fire broke out in a residential building on February 22, leaving four dead and 19 missing. EPA
  • A tractor transporting farmers' produce to sell at the markets, crosses the La Paz river inundated by a mudslide in El Penol, Bolivia. AP
    A tractor transporting farmers' produce to sell at the markets, crosses the La Paz river inundated by a mudslide in El Penol, Bolivia. AP
  • A model wears a creation as part of the Versace women's Autumn-Winter 2024-25 collection in Milan, Italy. AP
    A model wears a creation as part of the Versace women's Autumn-Winter 2024-25 collection in Milan, Italy. AP
  • A man sells paintings and wall hangings in Mercato Market in central Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Getty Images
    A man sells paintings and wall hangings in Mercato Market in central Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Getty Images

Today's best photos: From American white pelicans to Mercato Market in Ethiopia


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More from The National:

Friday's best photos: From a presidential resignation to a Moon landing

Thursday's best photos: From F1 testing to beekeepers protesting

Wednesday's best photos: From temple steps to an elephant crossing the road

Tuesday's best photos: From cleaning the statue of David to Olympic preparations in Tahiti

Monday's best photos: From tourists in Sri Lanka to a Cat Extravaganza in London

Sunday's best photos: From Bengal tiger cub in Spain to mourners at funeral in Lebanon

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results:

CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off

1.           Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds

2.           Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09

3.           Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42

4.           Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63

5.           Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74

Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

UK’s AI plan
  • AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
  • £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
  • £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
  • £250m to train new AI models
Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

What is Genes in Space?

Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.

It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration. 

The biog

Age: 46

Number of Children: Four

Hobby: Reading history books

Loves: Sports

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile

Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

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

Mobile phone packages comparison
Updated: February 24, 2024, 11:45 AM