Ted Cruz, a US senator from Texas, faced criticism for flying to Mexico on Wednesday after his home state was battered by historic winter storms.
He returned to Houston on Thursday night after reportedly moving up his flight following a public outcry over his apparent neglect of the humanitarian crisis.
Mr Cruz defended the trip, saying it was for his daughters.
"With school cancelled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends," he said through his office on Thursday afternoon.
"Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them [to Cancun] last night and am flying back this afternoon.”
Images started circulating on Wednesday evening showing Mr Cruz at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport boarding a flight to Cancun.
United flight UA1020 departed Houston for Cancun at 4.44pm, exactly 34 minutes after the photos were posted, an ABC local affiliate channel reported.
Millions of Texans are without power and heat as snow and ice storms ravage the state. At least 10 people died.
"My staff and I are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas," Mr Cruz said on Thursday.
Former MSNBC host David Shuster on Wednesday night tweeted another photo showing Mr Cruz on the flight.
Mr Shuster said Mr Cruz and his family “flew to Cancun tonight for a few days at a resort they've visited before”.
The temperature in Cancun is expected to reach a high of 29°C on Thursday. Temperatures in some areas of his home state fell to minus 12°C this week.
AP confirmed the trip with a source who said the family holiday had been planned for a long time.
Many took to Twitter to criticise the senator, showing food lines and images of Texans lined up for groceries.
"We want our power back, our water on, and our homes warm," Mr Cruz said.
"My team and I will continue using all our resources to keep Texans informed and safe."
The Texas Democratic Party called on Mr Cruz to resign.
“Texas, you deserve so much better. Upgrade your representation starting in '22!” Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison tweeted.
A Thursday flight from Cancun to Houston listed the name Cruz among those on standby for a seating upgrade.
ABC reported on Thursday that the senator's staff contacted the Houston Police Department to offer assistance on his return to the state.
The aviation news website Skift reported that Mr Cruz had rebooked his ticket on United airlines today at 6am, moving his departure up by two days.
Mr Cruz was seen boarding alone in the Cancun airport without his family, pulling a black suitcase.
He is expected to land in Houston at 4.05pm local time.
Social media focus on his flight travel is a reminder of other flights that have caught public attention over the past decade.
It pales in comparison with British politician Priti Patel's return flight to the UK from Kenya in 2017 after it was rumoured that she would be fired from the Cabinet.
Former prime minister David Cameron was also criticised for going on holiday in Ibiza a short time after his country suffered terrorist attacks in 2013.
There was also the 2013 flight from South Africa to New York that carried Justine Sacco, a public relations staffer at media company IAC at the time, who tweeted a racist remark before departing.
The post led to her firing after her tweet went viral on social media with the hashtag #HasJustineLandedYet.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
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Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
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
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
Company%20profile
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