Foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council met a Yemeni government delegation in Abu Dhabi last night for talks on an exit plan for the country's embattled president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The GCC proposes that Mr Saleh hand over power to his vice president. Yemen's opposition has rejected the deal because it does not call on the president to step down immediately.
In Yemen yesterday at least three protesters died and several were wounded when security forces opened fire on demonstrations in the capital, Sana'a, and the southern city of Taiz. A fourth protester shot and injured in demonstrations on Sunday also died yesterday.
Thousands took part in the huge anti-government demonstration in Taiz, which has been the hotbed of protests demanding Mr Saleh's resignation of the president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. Talat Abdullah Ghalib, 34 and a father of four, was shot in the chest and died in hospital. At least four other protesters were injured.
About 10,000 people had rallied in front of the criminal investigation prison in Taiz to demand the release of seven protesters arrested during an attack on demonstrators in the morning.
The protest organisers called for rallies today for what they called Martyr Day to express solidarity with the victims of the protests and mobilise efforts to increase pressure on the regime.
Protesters have intensified their efforts during the past few days in Taiz with a general strike. Most schools were closed. More than 125 people have been killed in the protests since February 11.
Tens of thousands also took to the streets in Sana'a yesterday and thousands demonstrated in Aden, Ibb, Al Hudaydah and other cities.
The Sana'a protest turned violent when security forces opened fire and lobbed tear-gas canisters and stun grenades at the protesters as they tried to make their way to the capital's main thoroughfare. The protesters replied by throwing stones.
At least two protesters were killed and five were in serious condition in hospital.
Khaled al Ansi, a protest organiser, said about 60 were injured by bullets or sharp objects. A number of those injured were believed to be police officers who had joined the protesters.
An ambulance accompanying the protesters, carrying four female doctors, was seized and taken away by security forces. Mr al Ansi said that if the ambulance and the doctors were not released, the protesters would storm the riot police's headquarters.
malqadhi@thenational.ae
hdajani@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by the Associated Press
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Match info
Costa Rica 0
Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')
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
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full
1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
6 Mark Zuckerberg $67.3 billion
7 Larry Page $56.8 billion
8 Larry Ellison $56.1 billion
9 Sergey Brin $55.2 billion
10 Carlos Slim $55.2 billion
