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AOC and US Congress members arrested at abortion protest outside Supreme Court

Demonstration came three weeks after Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v Wade

AFP

July 19, 2022

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At least 17 Democratic politicians, including progressive congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, were arrested at an abortion rights protest outside the Supreme Court in Washington on Tuesday, police said.

US Capitol Police said on Twitter that the demonstrators blocked traffic on a nearby road and were given three warnings before officers arrested them.

"We made a total of 35 arrests for crowding, obstructing or incommoding," the police said. "That arrest number includes 17 members of Congress."

  • Ilhan Omar is detained by US Capitol police officers after participating in a sit in with activists from the Centre for Popular Democracy Action in front of the Supreme Court Building on July 19. AFP
    Ilhan Omar is detained by US Capitol police officers after participating in a sit in with activists from the Centre for Popular Democracy Action in front of the Supreme Court Building on July 19. AFP
  • Cori Bush is detained by police. The CPDA held the protest with House Democrats in support of abortion rights. AFP
    Cori Bush is detained by police. The CPDA held the protest with House Democrats in support of abortion rights. AFP
  • Andy Levin is detained by police. AFP
    Andy Levin is detained by police. AFP
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is detained by police. AFP
    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is detained by police. AFP
  • Barbara Lee is detained by police. AFP
    Barbara Lee is detained by police. AFP
  • House Democrats protest against the Dobbs versus Jackson Women's Health Organisation decision in which the court held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer a right to abortion. AFP
    House Democrats protest against the Dobbs versus Jackson Women's Health Organisation decision in which the court held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer a right to abortion. AFP
  • House Democrats join an abortion rights protest. AFP
    House Democrats join an abortion rights protest. AFP
  • Cori Bush leaves a processing area after being arrested for participating in a sit in. AFP
    Cori Bush leaves a processing area after being arrested for participating in a sit in. AFP
  • Ayanna Pressley and Ms Ocasio-Cortez speak to reporters after being arrested. AFP
    Ayanna Pressley and Ms Ocasio-Cortez speak to reporters after being arrested. AFP
  • Ms Ocasio-Cortez looks on as activists and lawmakers are processed after being arrested. AFP
    Ms Ocasio-Cortez looks on as activists and lawmakers are processed after being arrested. AFP

The demonstration came three weeks after a historic ruling by the Supreme Court that overturned the 1973 landmark decision of Roe v Wade, which guaranteed women's access to abortion.

"Today I was arrested while participating in a civil disobedience action with my fellow members of Congress outside the Supreme Court," Ms Omar, a representative from Minnesota, said on Twitter.

"I will continue to do everything in my power to raise the alarm about the assault on our reproductive rights."

Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York was also arrested.

"There is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies and decisions about their own health, including reproductive care," Ms Maloney said.

"The Republican Party and the right-wing extremists behind this decision are not pro-life, but pro-controlling the bodies of women, girls and any person who can become pregnant."

Footage from the protest showed Ms Ocasio-Cortez, Ms Omar and others being led away, not in handcuffs, and waving to supporters.

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Helen Cullen, Graydon House 

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

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Our legal advisor

Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation. 

Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.

Biog:

Age: 34

Favourite superhero: Batman

Favourite sport: anything extreme

Favourite person: Muhammad Ali 

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2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 - 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 - 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 - 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 - 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 - 4-under
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T6. Brooks Koepka (USA) 65 72 68 71 - 4-under
T6. Branden Grace (RSA) 70 74 62 70 - 4-under
T6. Alexander Noren (SWE)  68 72 69 67 - 4-under

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THE SPECS

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE

Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors

Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode

Power: 121hp

Torque: 142Nm

Price: Dh95,900

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Company profile

Name: Steppi

Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic

Launched: February 2020

Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year

Employees: Five

Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings

Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

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Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

Anxiety and work stress major factors

Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.

A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.

Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.

One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.

It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."

Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.

“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi. 

“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."

Daniel Bardsley

Scores in brief:

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bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).

Updated: July 20, 2022, 7:08 AM
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