Michel Barnier told Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) he is prepared for another four days of last-ditch Brexit negotiations with the UK, while both sides sounded gloomy about striking a trade deal in that time.
The EU's chief Brexit negotiator and David Frost, his British counterpart, resumed talks in London on Saturday. The Frenchman declined to comment after the discussion, but earlier said, "We are not far from the take-it-or-leave it moment," according to a European source.
Last week, talks were taken online after a member of Mr Barnier's team tested positive for coronavirus.
In a private meeting on Friday, Mr Barnier told MEPs that he would work through the weekend and then "maybe one or two more days" in a final effort to reach an agreement with the UK.
With five weeks left until the end of the transition period, Mr Barnier was advised by European parliament officials that scrutinising and voting on an accord before the end of the year would be difficult if a deal were not made by Wednesday.
The news came as British interior minister Priti Patel said the talks were continuing.
"As a government, we're very clear in our commitment to make sure that those talks continue so we can get to a conclusive end, but at the same time we are preparing in the way in which our country would expect us to prepare for the end of transition," Ms Patel said.
Despite now agreeing on many aspects of a deal, the two sides are at odds on fishing policy, level playing field provisions and governance.
Mr Barnier was reported to have told European ambassadors that as part of a free trade deal the EU was prepared to offer the UK between 15 per cent and 18 per cent of the fish quota caught at present in British waters. That was dismissed by Westminster as "derisory".
MEPs have voiced frustration with the delays and may have to ratify a deal between Christmas and the New Year.
A failure to reach a deal would result in a messy separation on January 1, with the sides forced to trade on World Trade Organisation terms.
That would mean tariffs imposed on goods travelling into mainland Europe, border checks, and a situation that is widely expected to cause economic chaos.
Britain has largely been trading on the same terms with the EU since it officially left the bloc in January as part of a transition agreement that expires at the end of the year.
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m
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When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
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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
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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
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8. Pillar 2 implementation
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9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
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10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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How Voiss turns words to speech
The device has a screen reader or software that monitors what happens on the screen
The screen reader sends the text to the speech synthesiser
This converts to audio whatever it receives from screen reader, so the person can hear what is happening on the screen
A VOISS computer costs between $200 and $250 depending on memory card capacity that ranges from 32GB to 128GB
The speech synthesisers VOISS develops are free
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Partnerships planned during Expo 2020 Dubai to add more languages
At least 2.2 billion people globally have a vision impairment or blindness
More than 90 per cent live in developing countries
The Long-term aim of VOISS to reach the technology to people in poor countries with workshops that teach them to build their own device
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
