US President Joe Biden on Friday declared that misinformation on social media is “killing people” while countries around the world experience an increase in new coronavirus cases due to the dominant and highly transmissible Delta variant.
“They’re killing people,” he told reporters outside the White House. “The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated. And they’re killing people.”
The Biden administration has recently pointed to misinformation about the coronavirus and Covid-19 vaccines as a cause for concern.
"We will not be distracted by accusations which aren’t supported by the facts," Facebook spokesman Kevin McAlister said on Friday.
"The fact is that more than two billion people have viewed authoritative information about Covid-19 and vaccines on Facebook, which is more than any other place on the internet.
"More than 3.3 million Americans have also used our vaccine finder tool to find out where and how to get a vaccine. The facts show that Facebook is helping save lives. Period," he said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday that staff was “flagging problematic posts” of pandemic misinformation for Facebook.
“It’s painful to know that nearly every death we are seeing now could have been prevented,” US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said on Friday.
“The truth is that across our nation, the voices of doctors, nurses, scientists and public health experts are too often being drowned out by the false sirens of misinformation. Misinformation robs us of our freedom to make decisions for our health based on science and facts.”
The country is reporting more than 27,000 daily cases nationwide, the highest rate since May, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.
CNN and The New York Times report that all 50 states are seeing rises in cases, and most of those states say infections are overwhelmingly among the unvaccinated and are leading to higher levels of hospital admissions.
“There is a clear message that is coming through: this is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Friday.
While the US has a surplus of vaccine supply, only 48.4 per cent of the US population is fully vaccinated and 61 per cent have had at least one dose. The rate of vaccination has slowed to a seven-day average of about 445,000 immunisations per day, despite once being in the millions.
More than 608,000 people in the US have died from Covid-19.
Reuters has contributed to this report
Why are you, you?
Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
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A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
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Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
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Come with questions, leave with visions.
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new answers are given wings.
Why are you, you?
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with the unique light of art.
Ben Okri,
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
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
More coverage from the Future Forum
The Matrix Resurrections
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Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
