President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on the US Congress to act on protecting American voting rights, as Republicans in states they control pass a series of new laws that will make it harder for some people to cast their ballots.
Mr Biden's remarks come amid growing alarm in his Democratic Party that nothing less than the future of US democracy is at stake. He has proclaimed protecting ballot access the central cause of his presidency, but has faced sharp criticism from allies for not doing more.
“We are facing the most significant test of our democracy since the Civil War,” Mr Biden said in a speech from the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“That's not hyperbole — since the Civil War. The Confederates, back then, never breached the Capitol as insurrectionists did on January 6.”
Over a dozen states have enacted laws that hamper American voting rights and Mr Biden says hundreds more are being considered.
The latest political fight over voting rights is in Texas, where Democrat legislators hurriedly fled to Washington to block sweeping new election laws Republicans are trying to pass back home.
“They want to make it so hard and inconvenient that they hope people don't vote at all. That's what this is about,” Mr Biden said about Republican state efforts.
“It's unrelenting. And we're going to challenge it vigorously.”
He said members of Congress should pass two voting rights bills as soon as possible, but he avoided any mention of trying to alter the Senate filibuster rule that stands in the path of federal legislation.
“We must pass the For the People Act,” he demanded, referring to a bill Republicans blocked in June.
Another bill, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, is still in process and could face a vote within weeks.
He also called on Americans to stand up to voter suppression and Republican legislators to stop supporting the “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen from former president Donald Trump.
Mr Biden said Republican efforts amount to “election subversion".
“Some things in America should be simple and straightforward,” he said.
“Perhaps the most important of those things, the most fundamental of those things, is the right to vote. The right to vote freely. The right to vote fairly. The right to have your vote counted.”
The Department of Justice in late June sued the state of Georgia to halt a voting law the Biden administration says limits voting rights for black Americans.
Florida's Republican governor in May passed a law against voter fraud, which Democrats and other critics believe limits voter access.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has threatened Democratic lawmakers with arrest after they fled to the state to deny Republicans a quorum to pass tough new voting laws.
Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives on Tuesday authorised finding and bringing back more than 50 lawmakers “under warrant of arrest if necessary”.
However, state troopers have no jurisdiction beyond Texas, making it unclear what, if any, actions would immediately be taken.
The Texas legislation would outlaw 24-hour polling places, ban ballot drop boxes used to deposit mail ballots and empower partisan poll watchers.
More than a dozen states this year have already passed tougher election laws — but only in Texas have Democrats put up this kind of fight.
Chris Turner, the Texas House Democratic leader, predicted their efforts would ultimately be futile unless congressional Democrats take bolder action to overcome a Senate Republican blockade of their sweeping voting bill.
“We can’t hold this tide back forever. We’re buying some time. We need Congress and all of our federal leaders to use that time wisely,” he said.
Despite the Texas exodus by Democrats, Mr Abbott has said Republicans will not be deterred.
“As soon as they come back in the state of Texas, they will be arrested, they will be cabined inside the Texas Capitol until they get their job done,” Mr Abbott told Austin television station KVUE.
The cross-country exodus was the second time Democratic politicians have staged a walkout over the voting overhaul, a measure they say will make it harder for young people, people of colour and people with disabilities to vote. Like last month’s effort, there remains no clear path for Democrats to permanently block the voting measures.
Vice President Kamala Harris will meet the Democratic legislators this week, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
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
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
