Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (L), with Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President, at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, south-west London, on Wednesday. PA
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (L), with Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President, at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, south-west London, on Wednesday. PA
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (L), with Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President, at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, south-west London, on Wednesday. PA
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (L), with Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President, at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, south-west London, on Wednesday. PA

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UK

UK and South Africa to collaborate in tackling pandemics and climate change

Institutions from both nations will undertake research in nine projects

Gillian Duncan
Gillian Duncan

November 23, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

The UK and South Africa on Wednesday agreed to closer collaboration to tackle pandemics and develop medicine.

Health and education institutions will begin research in nine projects, from health systems and financing to mental health and surgery.

The agreement was struck during South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit to Britain, the first hosted by King Charles III as Britain's monarch.

It includes more UK funding to support genome sequencing to improve antimicrobial resistance monitoring in Africa.

More than 17,000 genomes have been sequenced to date in South Africa with UK support.

The additional funding will enable more rapid detection of diseases in at least 18 African countries, which could help to prevent pandemics.

The UK and South Africa are also working together to protect health systems from the increasing threat of climate change.

“Strengthening the partnership between the UK and South Africa is not only crucial in improving health and patient outcomes in both countries, but it is also vital to add to the global resilience of our health systems," said Steve Barclay, UK Health and Social Care Secretary.

“Through this partnership, we will reinforce our shared commitment to ensuring the world is better prepared for pandemics through joint research and building capability for disease surveillance.

King Charles III welcomes South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa to the UK — in pictures

  • Britain's King Charles III and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, attending a welcoming ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in central London on Tuesday. Getty Images
    Britain's King Charles III and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, attending a welcoming ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in central London on Tuesday. Getty Images
  • The state carriage proceeds along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace in the first state visit hosted by the UK with King Charles as monarch. Getty Images
    The state carriage proceeds along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace in the first state visit hosted by the UK with King Charles as monarch. Getty Images
  • Cyril Ramaphosa shakes hands with King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla. AP
    Cyril Ramaphosa shakes hands with King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla. AP
  • Cyril Ramaphosa is greeted by Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, at the Corinthia Hotel in London. PA
    Cyril Ramaphosa is greeted by Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, at the Corinthia Hotel in London. PA
  • British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends the parade, part of the welcome ceremony. Reuters
    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends the parade, part of the welcome ceremony. Reuters
  • Members of the Coldstream Guards march to Buckingham Palace. AP
    Members of the Coldstream Guards march to Buckingham Palace. AP
  • King Charles and the queen consort leaving Buckingham Palace in the royal entourage. Getty Images
    King Charles and the queen consort leaving Buckingham Palace in the royal entourage. Getty Images
  • Catherine, Princess of Wales, Cyril Ramaphosa, King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort during the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace. Getty
    Catherine, Princess of Wales, Cyril Ramaphosa, King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort during the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace. Getty
  • The State Banquet at Buckingham Palace. Getty
    The State Banquet at Buckingham Palace. Getty
  • The Princess of Wales arrives at Buckingham Palace. PA
    The Princess of Wales arrives at Buckingham Palace. PA
  • King Charles makes a speech during the State Banquet. Reuters
    King Charles makes a speech during the State Banquet. Reuters
  • Cyril Ramaphosa, King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort pose for a photograph during the State Banquet. AFP
    Cyril Ramaphosa, King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort pose for a photograph during the State Banquet. AFP

“It was excellent to meet President Ramaphosa at the Francis Crick Institute, where staff showcased the best of innovative research technology the UK has to offer."

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, on Wednesday accompanied Mr Ramaphosa to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, where a partnership with South African institutions is helping to preserve biodiversity and address climate change.

“It is vital for countries to work together to tackle global challenges like climate change and pandemic preparedness," Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.

“This will benefit us all. The UK and South Africa have shown global leadership in joining to protect people by preventing the spread of dangerous diseases and by working to halt climate change, including through the ground-breaking Just Energy Transition Partnership to help countries move away from using fossil fuels.”

Mr Ramaphosa's trip is the first state visit to the UK for more than three years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
While you're here
Longreads
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

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

Favourite activities: Bungee jumping

Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

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
Updated: November 23, 2022, 2:32 PM
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