• President Barack Obama waves as he arrives at Jose Marti International Airport on Air Force One for a 48-hour visit in Havana, Cuba. Mr Obama’s visit is the first in nearly 90 years for a sitting president. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
    President Barack Obama waves as he arrives at Jose Marti International Airport on Air Force One for a 48-hour visit in Havana, Cuba. Mr Obama’s visit is the first in nearly 90 years for a sitting president. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
  • Chinese honour guards practice before a welcoming ceremony for Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli held by China’s Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Jason Lee / Reuters
    Chinese honour guards practice before a welcoming ceremony for Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli held by China’s Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Jason Lee / Reuters
  • An aerial view of around 10,000 public bicycles seen under plastic rain cover before being put into use in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. David Johnson / Reuters
    An aerial view of around 10,000 public bicycles seen under plastic rain cover before being put into use in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. David Johnson / Reuters
  • Paris St Germain’s David Luiz jumps to head the ball during a free kick against Monaco. Charles Platiau / Reuters
    Paris St Germain’s David Luiz jumps to head the ball during a free kick against Monaco. Charles Platiau / Reuters
  • Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Dayron Varona hugs his niece Melissa Cabrera as he sees members of his family living in Havana, Cuba for the first time in three years, after arriving at the team hotel in Havana, Cuba. The Rays will play a game against Cuba’s national team on March 22. Rebecca Blackwell / AP
    Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Dayron Varona hugs his niece Melissa Cabrera as he sees members of his family living in Havana, Cuba for the first time in three years, after arriving at the team hotel in Havana, Cuba. The Rays will play a game against Cuba’s national team on March 22. Rebecca Blackwell / AP
  • Boavista’s defender Afonso Mendes Ribeiro Figueiredo, left, kicks the ball near Benfica’s midfielder Pizzi during the Portuguese league football match Boavista vs SL Benfica at the Estadio do Bessa Seculo XXI in Porto. Francisco Leong / AFP
    Boavista’s defender Afonso Mendes Ribeiro Figueiredo, left, kicks the ball near Benfica’s midfielder Pizzi during the Portuguese league football match Boavista vs SL Benfica at the Estadio do Bessa Seculo XXI in Porto. Francisco Leong / AFP
  • Malaysian religious students walk down a corridor of the Federal Territory Mosque before offering prayers during a gathering for students who had successfully memorised the Quran in its entirety, in Kuala Lumpur. Mohd Rasfan / AFP
    Malaysian religious students walk down a corridor of the Federal Territory Mosque before offering prayers during a gathering for students who had successfully memorised the Quran in its entirety, in Kuala Lumpur. Mohd Rasfan / AFP
  • A Congolese policeman tries to calm angry voters at the SG Angola Libre school in the Makelekele district of Brazzaville while the ballots were counted in the polling station. Voters reacted to alleged vote irregularity and demonstrated until a large anti riot unit dispersed them with tear gas. Marco Longari / AFP
    A Congolese policeman tries to calm angry voters at the SG Angola Libre school in the Makelekele district of Brazzaville while the ballots were counted in the polling station. Voters reacted to alleged vote irregularity and demonstrated until a large anti riot unit dispersed them with tear gas. Marco Longari / AFP
  • Spanish matador David Galvan is gored in the foot by a bull during the San Isidro bullfight festival at Las Ventas bullring in Madrid. Alberto Simon / AFP
    Spanish matador David Galvan is gored in the foot by a bull during the San Isidro bullfight festival at Las Ventas bullring in Madrid. Alberto Simon / AFP
  • Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo of Movistar Yamaha MotoGP crosses the finish line to win the MotoGP race of the Qatar Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit in Doha. Karim Jaafar / AFP
    Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo of Movistar Yamaha MotoGP crosses the finish line to win the MotoGP race of the Qatar Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit in Doha. Karim Jaafar / AFP
  • Children watch fish swimming in an aquarium at the Scientific Center of Kuwait in Kuwait City. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP
    Children watch fish swimming in an aquarium at the Scientific Center of Kuwait in Kuwait City. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP
  • Polling station officials at the Pierre Ntsiete Primary School in Brazzaville prepare to close the polling stations during the vote for the presidential election. Eduardo Soteras / AFP
    Polling station officials at the Pierre Ntsiete Primary School in Brazzaville prepare to close the polling stations during the vote for the presidential election. Eduardo Soteras / AFP
  • Indian Hindu widows throw flower petals and colored powder during Holi celebrations at the Gopinath temple, India. A few years ago this joyful celebration was forbidden for Hindu widows. Like hundreds of thousands of observant Hindu women they would have been expected to live out their days in quiet worship, dressed only in white, their very presence being considered inauspicious for all religious festivities. Manish Swarup / AP
    Indian Hindu widows throw flower petals and colored powder during Holi celebrations at the Gopinath temple, India. A few years ago this joyful celebration was forbidden for Hindu widows. Like hundreds of thousands of observant Hindu women they would have been expected to live out their days in quiet worship, dressed only in white, their very presence being considered inauspicious for all religious festivities. Manish Swarup / AP
  • Penitents wearing masks, known locally as “Morions” take a selfie during the start of Holy Week celebrations in Mogpog, Marinduque in central Philippines. Erik De Castro / Reuters
    Penitents wearing masks, known locally as “Morions” take a selfie during the start of Holy Week celebrations in Mogpog, Marinduque in central Philippines. Erik De Castro / Reuters
  • Kyrgyz women pose for the photographer dressed in national attire during Nooruz celebrations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Nooruz is traditionally celebrated by Central Asian people as a New Year holiday. Igor Kovalenko / EPA
    Kyrgyz women pose for the photographer dressed in national attire during Nooruz celebrations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Nooruz is traditionally celebrated by Central Asian people as a New Year holiday. Igor Kovalenko / EPA
  • Debutantes from a local academy look at their mobile phones before taking part in the Vienna Ball at the Kempinski Hotel in Beijing, China. The ball, which is an event organised by the luxury Kempinski Hotel chain and the City of Vienna, brings together both Chinese and foreign members of the capital’s elite class. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
    Debutantes from a local academy look at their mobile phones before taking part in the Vienna Ball at the Kempinski Hotel in Beijing, China. The ball, which is an event organised by the luxury Kempinski Hotel chain and the City of Vienna, brings together both Chinese and foreign members of the capital’s elite class. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
  • A performer dressed as a Hello Kitty poses inside a Hello Kitty-themed Taroko Express train in Taipei, Taiwan. The train will make its inaugural run on a round trip from Taipei to Taitung. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
    A performer dressed as a Hello Kitty poses inside a Hello Kitty-themed Taroko Express train in Taipei, Taiwan. The train will make its inaugural run on a round trip from Taipei to Taitung. Tyrone Siu / Reuters

World in focus – best photos for March 21, 2016


  • English
  • Arabic

A look at the best photos from around the world.

Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community

• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style

“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.

Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term. 

From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”

• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International

"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed.  Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."

• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."

• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com

"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.

His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.

Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."

• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher

"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen.  He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”

• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."

Surianah's top five jazz artists

Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.  

Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.

Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.

Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.

Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.

RESULT

Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')

 

Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)

RESULTS

Women:

55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2

Men:

62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke

'Brazen'

Director: Monika Mitchell

Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler

Rating: 3/5

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E666hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%20at%202%2C300-4%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQ1%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh1.15%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

Company Profile

Company name: Yeepeey

Started: Soft launch in November, 2020

Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani

Based: Dubai

Industry: E-grocery

Initial investment: $150,000

Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year

Stamp duty timeline

December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%

April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.

July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.

March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.

April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.