• Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with staff during a visit to Haven Perran Sands Holiday Park in Perranporth, Cornwall. AP Photo
    Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with staff during a visit to Haven Perran Sands Holiday Park in Perranporth, Cornwall. AP Photo
  • Boris Johnson is at the Holiday Park in Perranporth to see how they are preparing to reopen. AFP
    Boris Johnson is at the Holiday Park in Perranporth to see how they are preparing to reopen. AFP
  • Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall meets members of the community during a visit to learn how the London Islamic Cultural Society has supported the local community through the coronavirus pandemic, at Wightman Road Mosque in north London. AFP
    Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall meets members of the community during a visit to learn how the London Islamic Cultural Society has supported the local community through the coronavirus pandemic, at Wightman Road Mosque in north London. AFP
  • Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, reacts as she helps staff to prepare a dose of a vaccine during a visit to a vaccination centre at Lordship Lane Primary Care Centre in London. Reuters
    Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, reacts as she helps staff to prepare a dose of a vaccine during a visit to a vaccination centre at Lordship Lane Primary Care Centre in London. Reuters
  • A worker waters flowers in Covent Garden as preparations are made ahead of shops re-opening in London. AP Photo
    A worker waters flowers in Covent Garden as preparations are made ahead of shops re-opening in London. AP Photo
  • Pharmacists transport a cooler containing the Moderna vaccine at the Glangwili General Hospital in Carmarthen, Wales. Reuters
    Pharmacists transport a cooler containing the Moderna vaccine at the Glangwili General Hospital in Carmarthen, Wales. Reuters
  • A man paints red hearts onto the Covid-19 Memorial Wall on the Embankment in London. AP Photo
    A man paints red hearts onto the Covid-19 Memorial Wall on the Embankment in London. AP Photo
  • A member of the public passes by a vaccination centre in London. The UK government has been considering the use of vaccine certification. EPA
    A member of the public passes by a vaccination centre in London. The UK government has been considering the use of vaccine certification. EPA

UK 'to hit herd immunity next week' as vaccines break the link between cases and deaths


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The UK will reach the threshold of herd immunity against Covid-19 on April 12, according to modelling by University College London, as vaccines "break the link" between cases and deaths.

The Office for National Statistics said the number of weekly coronavirus deaths in England and Wales had fallen by 92 per cent from the peak of the second wave.

The latest figures covering the week ending March 26 showed 719 deaths in a week, down from 8,945 from a week in January. On January 19 alone - the UK's deadliest day of the pandemic - 1,358 people died with Covid-19.

Scientists said the proportion of people who have protection against the virus – either through vaccines, previous infection or natural immunity – will hit 73.4 per cent next Monday, the same day non-essential shops and outdoor hospitality reopens.

Prof Karl Friston from UCL told The National that the UK's current threshold for herd immunity was 72 per cent.

"When you add to both the vaccine-induced immunity and natural immunity through previous infection and a small proportion of people who might have pre-existing or innate immunity - which could be up to 10 per cent - you can see immediately there aren't many people left.

"Suffering the Christmas surge and the success of the vaccination campaign has put us in a good position for reaching the threshold of herd immunity."

A separate study by Imperial College London found infections had fallen by about 60 per cent since February – but the data suggests the decline is levelling off.

While the decline in cases had stalled – possibly caused by the reopening of schools and increased social mixing – deaths did not follow the same pattern.

Between February 4 and February 23, when the React study was last carried out, an estimated one in 200 people had the virus.

It represented a two-thirds fall since January, with the decline attributed to lockdown.

With restrictions beginning to lift, it means scientists can now identify the decreases being driven by vaccination.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the results showed vaccines were preventing deaths even as the decline in cases was slowing.

“We’re seeing that the vaccine is working, it’s breaking the link between cases and deaths,” he said on Thursday.

“The number of people dying from Covid halved again in the last nine days."

He was keen to play down the findings on herd immunity being achieved by next week.

“I was told by some scientists that we were going to have herd immunity in May and then in June and then after that,” he said.

“What I prefer to do is watch the data. We’ve set out the roadmap, the roadmap is really clear. It is our route back to normal.”

Antibody testing by the Office for National Statistics suggested in the week ended March 14 that about 54 per cent of people in England had antibodies to the virus.

Since that study, a further 7.1 million people received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, bringing the total number of first-dose vaccinations to more than 31 million.

Explaining herd immunity, Prof Friston said "more people than you might imagine have been exposed to the virus" in the UK.

He said the virus had nowhere to go with more than 50 per cent of adults inoculated against Covid-19, a further 42 per cent with antibodies through previous infection and 10 per cent thought to have innate immunity. About 70 per cent of the population is immune when combined with the estimated efficacy of vaccines.

"Achieving herd immunity means the virus is on the path to dying out," he said.

"It's certainly a milestone in moving from an epidemic to an endemic phase, but it doesn't mean we should suddenly unlock. If we now suddenly increase contact rates through premature unlocking then the R ratio would jump above 1, the herd immunity threshold would increase and we would no longer be in a safe situation."

The herd immunity threshold is heavily influenced by the R number - how fast the virus spreads - which rises and falls based on community transmission of the virus.

Prof Friston said the threshold could go down in summer as people mix outdoors but there is a chance it may increase if new variants of the virus take hold.

Oxford Vaccine Group: Not the time to waver

The encouraging findings come as UK regulators on Wednesday announced people under 30 will be offered an alternative vaccine to the one developed by AstraZeneca over concerns about rare blood clots.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said the clots were “extremely rare”, but a risk/benefit analysis meant it was preferable for young people to receive alternative shots.

We need to put our confidence in the hands of the system

The announcement was designed to maintain public confidence in the vaccine after weeks of debate in Europe over the safety of the medication.

Mr Hancock reassured the public that the risk of blood clots was rare and the safety monitoring system was working.

“The safety system that we have around this vaccine is so sensitive that it can pick up events that are four in a million,” he said.

“I’m told this is about the equivalent risk of taking a long-haul flight.”

Oxford Vaccine Group director Prof Andrew Pollard said now was not the time to waver.

“We need to put our confidence in the hands of the system,” he said.

“These are such rare events that even in the 60,000 people who have taken part in trials there were no cases. It is almost impossible until you get to this large scale to identify this possible link.”

First-round leaderbaord

-5 C Conners (Can)

-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);

-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)

Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)

Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng) 

1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)

3 R McIlroy (NI)

4 D Johnson (US)

The specs: 2018 Audi RS5

Price, base: Dh359,200

Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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

WWE Evolution results
  • Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
  • Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
  • Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
  • Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match​​​​​​​
  • Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
  • Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
  • Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
Kanye%20West
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Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas

Three stars

AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes. 
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com

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Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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