• Surfers take advantage of wind and waves from a winter snow storm in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Brian Snyder / Reuters
    Surfers take advantage of wind and waves from a winter snow storm in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Brian Snyder / Reuters
  • A water utility worker looks towards discharging water as it is released down a spillway as an emergency measure at the Oroville Dam in Oroville, California. Almost 200,000 people were under evacuation orders in northern California after a threat of catastrophic failure at the United States’ tallest dam. Josh Edelson / AFP
    A water utility worker looks towards discharging water as it is released down a spillway as an emergency measure at the Oroville Dam in Oroville, California. Almost 200,000 people were under evacuation orders in northern California after a threat of catastrophic failure at the United States’ tallest dam. Josh Edelson / AFP
  • A Keeshonden faces his handler during competition during the 2017 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, New York. The annual competition features hundreds of dogs from around the country. Justin Lane / EPA
    A Keeshonden faces his handler during competition during the 2017 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, New York. The annual competition features hundreds of dogs from around the country. Justin Lane / EPA
  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve give a joint press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin. Odd Andersen / AFP
    German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve give a joint press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin. Odd Andersen / AFP
  • Firefighters douse the remains of a charred vehicle at the burnt-out fire station in Bad Wiessee, southern Germany. According to local police, an explosion set the building on fire and two people were injured. Philipp Guelland / EPA
    Firefighters douse the remains of a charred vehicle at the burnt-out fire station in Bad Wiessee, southern Germany. According to local police, an explosion set the building on fire and two people were injured. Philipp Guelland / EPA
  • A visitor walks through the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, Germany. Ian Langsdon / EPA
    A visitor walks through the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, Germany. Ian Langsdon / EPA
  • Switzerland’s Justin Murisier falls during the slalom race of the men’s Alpine Combined event at the 2017 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St Moritz. Fabrice Coffrini / AFP
    Switzerland’s Justin Murisier falls during the slalom race of the men’s Alpine Combined event at the 2017 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St Moritz. Fabrice Coffrini / AFP
  • Newborn Malaysian tiger cubs rest in their nursery before they are fed at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. John Minchillo/ AP
    Newborn Malaysian tiger cubs rest in their nursery before they are fed at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. John Minchillo/ AP
  • An aerial picture taken with a drone shows a ferry trapped among the drifting ice-floes of River Tisza at Tiszacsege, 172 kilometres east of Budapest, Hungary. Istvan Ruzsa / EPA
    An aerial picture taken with a drone shows a ferry trapped among the drifting ice-floes of River Tisza at Tiszacsege, 172 kilometres east of Budapest, Hungary. Istvan Ruzsa / EPA
  • A Palestinian boy rides his bicycle through a wet street after the rain at the Al-Shatee refugee camp in Gaza City. Mohammed Abed / AFP
    A Palestinian boy rides his bicycle through a wet street after the rain at the Al-Shatee refugee camp in Gaza City. Mohammed Abed / AFP
  • People join hands to form a human chain along the Elbe river opposite the Dresden skyline to commemorate the destruction of the city during World War II, in Dresden, Germany. Filip Singer / EPA
    People join hands to form a human chain along the Elbe river opposite the Dresden skyline to commemorate the destruction of the city during World War II, in Dresden, Germany. Filip Singer / EPA
  • A bird runs through the surf at Border Field State Park in San Diego. Jim Watson / AFP
    A bird runs through the surf at Border Field State Park in San Diego. Jim Watson / AFP
  • Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling scores the 1-0 lead during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitalitiy stadium, Bournemouth. Gerry Penny / EPA
    Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling scores the 1-0 lead during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitalitiy stadium, Bournemouth. Gerry Penny / EPA
  • A view of icicles in the narrow-gauge railway tunnel in Szklary, south-eastern Poland. The 602-metre long tunnel resembles an ice cave with stalactites and stalagmites. Darek Delmanowicz / EPA
    A view of icicles in the narrow-gauge railway tunnel in Szklary, south-eastern Poland. The 602-metre long tunnel resembles an ice cave with stalactites and stalagmites. Darek Delmanowicz / EPA

World in focus — best photos for February 14, 2017


  • English
  • Arabic

A look at the best photos from around the world today.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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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

Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5