Several European countries suspended use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine.
Temporary bans were put in place after a small number of people who received the drug suffered blood clots.
We look at the key questions surrounding the situation.
Should people be worried about taking AstraZeneca’s vaccine?
No. Many scientists criticised European countries for acting too hastily in suspending the vaccine while the pandemic is ongoing.
Health experts said the number of blood clots reported in vaccinated people is no higher than in the general population, and that there is no evidence to link the vaccine directly to blood clotting.
“I think it is very clear that the benefits of being vaccinated at the moment … outweigh the possible concern over this rather rare type of blood clot,” Prof Peter Openshaw from Imperial College London told the BBC.
“It really is a completely one-sided argument statistically that we need to be vaccinating.”
Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, said it was reckless to stop using the vaccine.
“I keep hearing the phrase 'abundance of caution' being used in reference to countries pausing rollout of the Oxford vaccine, but is it really caution?” he said.
Prof Stephen Evans from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said some European countries were taking a “super-cautious approach based on some isolated reports”.
"The problem with spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions to a vaccine is the enormous difficulty of distinguishing a causal effect from a coincidence," he said.
Why did European countries suspend AstraZeneca’s vaccine?
A small number of blood-clotting incidents were reported in people who had received the vaccine made by AstraZeneca-Oxford.
Austria suspended a batch of the drug on March 9 while authorities investigated a death from a pulmonary embolism, an acute lung disease caused by a dislodged blood clot.
Denmark was next after a 60-year-old woman died from a blood clot after she was given a dose of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine from the same batch used in Austria.
Deaths from blood clots were also reported in Norway and Italy.
The medicines regulator said there were 30 cases of "thromboembolic events" among five million people in Europe who had received at least one dose of the vaccine.
French immunologist Alain Fischer, who heads a vaccination advisory board, said the cases caused alarm.
"There were a few very unusual and troubling cases which justify this pause and the analysis," Prof Fischer told France Inter radio.
"It's not lost time."
Which European countries suspended AstraZeneca’s vaccine?
Germany, France, Italy and Spain on Monday suspended AstraZeneca's Covid vaccinations, joining Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Bulgaria and Iceland.
Sweden on Tuesday became the latest country to halt distribution.
Austria suspended vaccinations from one batch of the drug, as did Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Romania.
How did the European Medical Association react?
The EU's medicines regulator said on Tuesday it was "firmly convinced" that the benefits of AstraZeneca's Covid shot outweighed potential risks, insisting there was no evidence linking the vaccine to blood clots.
"We are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death outweigh the risk of these side effects," EMA executive director Emer Cooke said.
"At present there is no indication that vaccination caused these conditions".
Ms Cooke said that the regulator was "looking at adverse events associated with all vaccines".
How did British authorities react?
Authorities in Britain see no evidence of more frequent blood clots among those inoculated with the vaccine.
The country has administered more than 11 million AstraZeneca-Oxford doses.
The UK’s Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said people should continue to receive their Covid-19 vaccines.
“We are closely reviewing reports but the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause,” MHRA safety lead Dr Phil Bryan said.
“Blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon … the number of blood clots reported after having the vaccine is not greater than the number that would have occurred naturally in the vaccinated population.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the effectiveness of the British-made vaccine and said it demonstrated the country's worldwide influence.
"That vaccine is safe and works extremely well, and now, only six months later, it is being made in multiple places from India to the US, as well as Britain, and it is being used around the world," he wrote in The Times.
What is the next step?
The EMA’s safety committee reviewed blood clot data on Tuesday and an extraordinary meeting was called for Thursday to consider whether any action should be taken.
If a strong association is found with vaccination, the regulator could put procedures in place to avoid similar problems occurring.
Several countries said they would lift the ban on AstraZeneca vaccines if the committee decided on Thursday decided against further action.
What did AstraZeneca say?
AstraZeneca said 15 events of deep-vein thrombosis – a blood clot in a vein – and 22 events of pulmonary embolism – when a blood clot entersthe lungs – were reported among those vaccinated in the UK and EU.
The company said these figures were "much lower than would be expected to occur naturally in a general population of this size and is similar across other licensed Covid-19 vaccines".
Has the EU had problems with AstraZeneca before?
The EU was embroiled in a major dispute with AstraZeneca this year after the pharmaceutical company said it would reduce deliveries to the bloc owing to a shortage of doses.
On March 5, Italy used the bloc’s transparency mechanism to block a shipment of vaccines made by AstraZeneca bound for Australia.
How will the ban affect Europe’s struggling vaccination drive?
The temporary bans came as Europe’s inoculation campaign was beginning to gather pace after a difficult start.
As well as supply shortages, some European nations experienced hesitancy, with people reluctant to take the AstraZeneca shot.
The drug was labelled “quasi-ineffective” by French President Emmanuel Macron.
German and French regulators added to the problem after recommending the vaccine for people aged under 65, citing a lack of safety data in vaccinated groups.
Those decisions were reversed but the damage was already done, with vaccine centres stocked with doses from AstraZeneca pictured empty.
Prof Openshaw said the latest news was likely to further damage the drug’s reputation in Europe.
“I think it is a disaster for the vaccination uptake in Europe, which is already on slightly unsteady ground in some countries,” he said.
Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34
England XI for second Test
Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
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Shabab Al Ahli 1
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Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
COMPANY PROFILE
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Sector: Startups
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
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Industry: Finance, technology
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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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