• The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Boston Logan International Airport, AP
    The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Boston Logan International Airport, AP
  • The royal couple are greeted by Lt Governor Karyn Polito, centre, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, back, and first lady Lauren Baker, back left, as they arrive at Boston Logan International Airport. AP
    The royal couple are greeted by Lt Governor Karyn Polito, centre, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, back, and first lady Lauren Baker, back left, as they arrive at Boston Logan International Airport. AP
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Boston on a rainy day before the Earthshot awards. AFP
    The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Boston on a rainy day before the Earthshot awards. AFP
  • Ms Wu and her family chat with the British royal couple. AFP
    Ms Wu and her family chat with the British royal couple. AFP
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales are shown photos of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Boston in 1976. AP
    The Prince and Princess of Wales are shown photos of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Boston in 1976. AP
  • The royal couple join governor-elect Maura Healey, centre, and Ms Wu, right, in pushing a green button to illuminate buildings in Boston with green light. AP
    The royal couple join governor-elect Maura Healey, centre, and Ms Wu, right, in pushing a green button to illuminate buildings in Boston with green light. AP
  • The royal couple speak with Ms Healey during a welcoming event at City Hall Plaza in Boston. EPA
    The royal couple speak with Ms Healey during a welcoming event at City Hall Plaza in Boston. EPA
  • Massachusetts governor-elect Maura Healey looks on as Britain's Prince William is handed a basketball by his wife Kate at a Boston Celtics game. AP
    Massachusetts governor-elect Maura Healey looks on as Britain's Prince William is handed a basketball by his wife Kate at a Boston Celtics game. AP
  • Prince William, centre, and wife Kate, right, are greeted by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum before the start of the Celtics-Heat NBA game in Boston, Massachusetts. EPA
    Prince William, centre, and wife Kate, right, are greeted by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum before the start of the Celtics-Heat NBA game in Boston, Massachusetts. EPA
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales look on as Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game. AP
    The Prince and Princess of Wales look on as Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game. AP
  • Prince William, Kate and Emilia Fazzalari, wife of Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck at the Boston Celtics game. AP
    Prince William, Kate and Emilia Fazzalari, wife of Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck at the Boston Celtics game. AP
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales discuss the players' skills at the Boston Celtics game. EPA
    The Prince and Princess of Wales discuss the players' skills at the Boston Celtics game. EPA
  • Fans take pictures of Prince William during halftime. EPA
    Fans take pictures of Prince William during halftime. EPA
  • The royal couple sit with Ms Wu, left, and Ms Healy, second left. EPA
    The royal couple sit with Ms Wu, left, and Ms Healy, second left. EPA
  • Ms Wu, Ms Healey and the Prince and Princess of Wales watch the game. AP
    Ms Wu, Ms Healey and the Prince and Princess of Wales watch the game. AP
  • Fans take photographs with the royal couple during the game. AP
    Fans take photographs with the royal couple during the game. AP
  • Former Boston Celtics player Satch Sanders speaks with Prince William. AP
    Former Boston Celtics player Satch Sanders speaks with Prince William. AP
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales speak with teenage climate activist Ollie Perrault. EPA
    The Prince and Princess of Wales speak with teenage climate activist Ollie Perrault. EPA
  • Prince William visits Greentown Labs in Somerville. Reuters
    Prince William visits Greentown Labs in Somerville. Reuters

Prince William keeps focus on environment during Earthshot awards trip to Boston


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Prince William and his wife Kate continued their Boston, Massachusetts, trip on Thursday in the lead-up to an awards ceremony for the Earthshot Prize on Friday.

Keeping the focus on the environment, on Thursday, the pair made a visit Greentown Labs, a climate tech start-up, in the city of Somerville, where Prince William issued a warning about the future of the planet, saying: “For all of us, the time is ticking.”

They are also scheduled to visit Roca, a non-profit that focuses on reducing youth violence.

It is the couple's first trip to the US in nearly a decade and their first visit abroad since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Their three-day trip to the US has been overshadowed by the growing race row over comments made by the future king's godmother, as the monarchy faces new allegations of racism.

Lady Susan Hussey has resigned from her role in the royal household and apologised after she repeatedly questioned Ngozi Fulani, a prominent black British domestic abuse activist, about where she “really came from” during a Buckingham Palace reception.

Their trip also coincides with the release of the trailer for Prince Harry and his wife Meghan's Netflix docuseries.

The one-minute trailer for the series, released on Friday, featured never-before-seen photographs of the couple, who live in California. In one part of the trailer, Meghan appears to be wiping away tears while Prince Harry sits and tilts his head back, seemingly in distress.

A Kensington Palace spokesman has reiterated comments made before the trip that the Prince and Princess of Wales would not be “distracted” by other things this week and their focus was on meeting communities and local people across Boston before the Earthshot awards.

“My grandmother was one of life's optimists. And so am I,” Prince William said in a statement on Wednesday.

“That is why last year we launched The Earthshot Prize with the ambition to create a truly global platform to inspire home and urgent optimism as we look to save the future of our planet.”

During a lighter moment of the visit, the couple met eight-year-old Henry Dynov-Teixeira, who was dressed as a King's Guardsman.

The boy handed the Princess of Wales a bunch of red roses and said he was “thrilled” to meet the couple in person.

“I am going to scream and tell my best friend that I am now famous,” Henry said.

On Wednesday night, the couple were treated to courtside seats at the Boston Celtics game, where they met Celtics star player Jayson Tatum.

The royal couple and the NBA team also celebrated the achievements of 15-year-old climate activist Ollie Perrault.

Prince William and wife Kate take in an NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. AP
Prince William and wife Kate take in an NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. AP

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu greeted the royal couple at city hall during a welcoming ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.

Their trip to the US city coincides with one being made by President Joe Biden, who will be in town for a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee reception.

The White House said Mr Biden “intends to greet” the royal couple when he is Boston but that details are still being finalised.

The couple on Friday will reveal the five winners of this year's Earthshot Prize and will also visit Harvard's Centre on the Developing Child.

They are also scheduled to tour the JFK Library with Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former president John F Kennedy.

Press Association contributed to this report

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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%3Cp%3E1984%20-%20Apple%20unveiled%20the%20Macintosh%20on%20January%2024%3Cbr%3E1985%20-%20Steve%20Jobs%20departed%20from%20Apple%20and%20established%20NeXT%3Cbr%3E1986%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20the%20Macintosh%20Plus%2C%20featuring%20enhanced%20memory%3Cbr%3E1987%20-%20Apple%20launched%20the%20Macintosh%20II%2C%20equipped%20with%20colour%20capabilities%3Cbr%3E1989%20-%20The%20widely%20acclaimed%20Macintosh%20SE%2F30%20made%20its%20debut%3Cbr%3E1994%20-%20Apple%20presented%20the%20Power%20Macintosh%3Cbr%3E1996%20-%20The%20Macintosh%20System%20Software%20OS%20underwent%20a%20rebranding%20as%20Mac%20OS%3Cbr%3E2001%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20Mac%20OS%20X%2C%20marrying%20Unix%20stability%20with%20a%20user-friendly%20interface%3Cbr%3E2006%20-%20Apple%20adopted%20Intel%20processors%20in%20MacBook%20Pro%20laptops%3Cbr%3E2008%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20the%20MacBook%20Air%2C%20a%20lightweight%20laptop%3Cbr%3E2012%20-%20Apple%20launched%20the%20MacBook%20Pro%20with%20a%20retina%20display%3Cbr%3E2016%20-%20The%20Mac%20operating%20system%20underwent%20rebranding%20as%20macOS%3Cbr%3E2020%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20the%20M1%20chip%20for%20Macs%2C%20combining%20high%20performance%20and%20energy%20efficiency%3Cbr%3E2022%20-%20The%20M2%20chip%20was%20announced%3Cbr%3E2023%20-The%20M3%20line-up%20of%20chip%20was%20announced%20to%20improve%20performance%20and%20add%20new%20capabilities%20for%20Mac.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

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 specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T

Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000

Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic

Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm

Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km

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What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books

Leading all-time NBA scorers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Karl Malone 36,928
Kobe Bryant 33,643
Michael Jordan 32,292
LeBron James 31,425
Wilt Chamberlain 31,419

RESULTS

Argentina 4 Haiti 0

Peru 2 Scotland 0

Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0

Updated: December 01, 2022, 7:26 PM