With Europe battling a second wave of Covid-19, attention has been diverted from another highly pathogenic virus that could jump from animals to human beings.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said that Europe is facing the very real prospect of the lethal HPAI H5N8 strain of avian influenza spreading to countries currently free from the disease.
In a public health announcement eerily reminiscent of the dire Covid-based proclamations the world has become so accustomed to, the EFSA's Animal and Plant Health Unit head, Nik Kriz, called for "close co-operation between animal, public, environmental and occupational health authorities".
The watchdog also implored national veterinary agencies to increase surveillance and restrictions.
Avian lockdown in UK
The entreaty is being heeded in the UK where poultry keepers are being asked to implement something akin to the lockdown measures currently circumscribing England's human population.
Farmers face the prospect of fines or even imprisonment if they fail to comply with a range of strictures, including the restriction of access for non-essential people, the removal of sources of wild bird food, and the regular disinfection of workers' footwear and clothes.
The beefed-up protocols follow the detection of the more potent strain at premises near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire and at a wetland centre near Stroud in Gloucestershire.
Where is the bird flu in Europe?
A change in the threat bird flu poses in Europe has occurred since the beginning of November when the EFSA issued a general warning on the back of outbreaks in Russia and Kazakhstan.
This has now escalated to there being a "high risk" – although the risk to people remains "very low".
Reports of new cases have mushroomed in recent days.
Six further cases were reported in the Netherlands while in Germany there were 76 more reports of the strain.
UAE issues poultry ban
The outbreak has not gone unnoticed by rest of the world.
On Saturday The National reported that the UAE has banned the import of birds and poultry products from several European countries.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment enforced the restrictions on areas that had recorded a surge in bird flu cases in November.
The authority prohibited the import of all species of domestic and wild live birds, ornamental birds, chicks, hatching eggs and their thermally untreated byproducts from the Netherlands, Germany, and select areas of Russia.
The import of poultry meat and table eggs from several regions of the UK was also banned as part of the safety measures.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
Match info
Karnataka Tuskers 110-3
J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16
Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs
K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
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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
