Chris Blackhurst is a former editor of The Independent, based in London
October 25, 2023
In the UK today, you could be forgiven for thinking there are two worlds. There’s the one that sees tens of thousands of people take to the streets voicing their support for the Palestinians. And there’s the one that sees politicians almost unanimously voicing their support for Israel.
It’s as if the two can’t meet, that there is not a halfway. From the pro-Palestinian lobby, it’s to be expected. Such is the grievance of some with Israel that the Hamas attacks, despite their barbarity, are going to make little difference. But from the political class, which prides itself on making connections across society, which likes to believe it is close to the zeitgeist, and which includes some argument in favour of the Palestinian cause, this is strange.
So odd in fact as to be virtually unique. It is rare for MPs and peers across the spectrum to speak with one voice. It usually happens when Britain goes to war, when no matter what they might suppose about the overall merits of the conflict they are mindful of having sons and daughters from their constituencies who may be serving in the armed forces. They’re concerned, too, about riling the press and being seen as unpatriotic.
A 'March For Palestine', in London on October 21, AFP
Otherwise, this degree of polarisation does not normally occur. It did take place with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But in that instance, there were no pro-Russian demonstrations; there is no large Russian population in Britain.
With the Israel-Gaza war, there are substantial Jewish and Arab communities, yet no one at Westminster is speaking up for the Palestinians, not in public at any rate.
The reasons for the lack of balance are various. Most of the mainstream coverage has focused extensively on the savagery displayed by Hamas. More than two weeks on, that still features heavily on news bulletins and in newspapers, as Israel releases bodycam images from killed Hamas perpetrators. It’s been a constant drip feed, day after day.
Then there is the desire to prevent an escalation, to stop Iran entering the war, to try and confine the fighting to Gaza and dissuade Hezbollah from opening a second front in the north, from Lebanon.
That is the US government’s policy and as so often in these episodes, the UK falls neatly in behind.
Washington has sent giant warships to the Eastern Mediterranean, partly to assist with humanitarian efforts but also to act as a deterrent. The financially strapped British contribution has been two much smaller craft. Quite how the latter will instil fear in Tehran or anywhere remains to be seen but as the Ministry of Defence must see it, they are better than nothing.
In Britain as well, as elsewhere, there is another factor at work. The economy is exhausted. Covid-19 followed by Ukraine and global inflation have weighed heavily on the national psyche and purse. The thought of a prolonged regional war (or worse) wreaking untold human and financial suffering is the last thing anyone wants.
There was shock at Hamas’s brutality, there is a desire for the war not to spread and bring in Iran
That in a nutshell is the Conservative party approach, to condemn Hamas (and let us not forget British civilians were killed or captured in the raids). With that, too, has come an opportunity for BBC-bashing, which the right always seizes upon. The corporation’s refusal to describe Hamas as terrorists was used by the BBC-hating right-wing media and Tories.
More of a surprise has been Labour’s stance. After all, it was not that long ago – in 2018 – when the party’s annual conference was awash with Palestinian flags.
This year’s gathering, which began the weekend of the Hamas onslaught, was notable for there not being a single Palestinian flag or pro-Palestine banner inside the main hall. There were some people demonstrating for Palestine outside the ring of security encircling the delegates and one or two MPs were seen to side with them, only to be swiftly criticised by the party leadership.
The Labour response can be explained in similar terms to the Tories, but with an added twist.
There was shock at Hamas’s brutality, there is a desire for the war not to spread and bring in Iran. In addition, where Labour is concerned, there is an almost pathological desire in the hierarchy to put distance between this iteration of their party and Jeremy Corbyn’s.
Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn (R) on March 21, 2019 for in Brussels, Belgium for Brexit talks. Getty Images
What accompanied the sea of Palestinian flags and the chanting of slogans in support of Gaza and the West Bank at the conferences in the Corbyn era were accusations of institutional anti-Semitism. For an organisation that liked to portray itself as most definitely not racist, as being supportive of anyone, regardless of ethnicity or faith, this was embarrassing and mortifying.
Since he took charge, Labour leader Keir Starmer has made it his mission to stamp out any anti-Semitic views, to show that Labour is not remotely that way inclined. That has meant not declaring support for the Palestinians. If Mr Corbyn had been in charge, it is safe to say that Labour’s position would have been very different.
Which is not to say there are no stirrings.
The longer it continues, Israel’s bombing of Gaza, and with it the inevitable inflicting of casualties on civilians and the resulting humanitarian crisis, is testing resolve. The deadly strike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital looked like it could be a turning point but the government, in the shape of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak himself, was quick to point the blame away from Israel.
At present, Israel is just about enjoying sympathy across the UK political divide. It’s straining, though. The comparison with the US after 9/11 is repeatedly made, that in the short-term the US was on the end of a wave of widespread international condolence, only to lose it in Iraq and Afghanistan and at Guantanamo.
Israel would do well to pay heed and avoid making the same mistake or else it will find that commiseration, from the left and even from the right, can switch to anger.
Match info
Wolves 0
Arsenal 2 (Saka 43', Lacazette 85')
Man of the match: Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Start-up hopes to end Japan's love affair with cash
Across most of Asia, people pay for taxi rides, restaurant meals and merchandise with smartphone-readable barcodes — except in Japan, where cash still rules. Now, as the country’s biggest web companies race to dominate the payments market, one Tokyo-based startup says it has a fighting chance to win with its QR app.
Origami had a head start when it introduced a QR-code payment service in late 2015 and has since signed up fast-food chain KFC, Tokyo’s largest cab company Nihon Kotsu and convenience store operator Lawson. The company raised $66 million in September to expand nationwide and plans to more than double its staff of about 100 employees, says founder Yoshiki Yasui.
Origami is betting that stores, which until now relied on direct mail and email newsletters, will pay for the ability to reach customers on their smartphones. For example, a hair salon using Origami’s payment app would be able to send a message to past customers with a coupon for their next haircut.
Quick Response codes, the dotted squares that can be read by smartphone cameras, were invented in the 1990s by a unit of Toyota Motor to track automotive parts. But when the Japanese pioneered digital payments almost two decades ago with contactless cards for train fares, they chose the so-called near-field communications technology. The high cost of rolling out NFC payments, convenient ATMs and a culture where lost wallets are often returned have all been cited as reasons why cash remains king in the archipelago. In China, however, QR codes dominate.
Cashless payments, which includes credit cards, accounted for just 20 per cent of total consumer spending in Japan during 2016, compared with 60 per cent in China and 89 per cent in South Korea, according to a report by the Bank of Japan.
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
Most wanted allegations
Benjamin Macann, 32: involvement in cocaine smuggling gang.
Jack Mayle, 30: sold drugs from a phone line called the Flavour Quest.
Callum Halpin, 27: over the 2018 murder of a rival drug dealer.
Asim Naveed, 29: accused of being the leader of a gang that imported cocaine.
Calvin Parris, 32: accused of buying cocaine from Naveed and selling it on.
John James Jones, 31: allegedly stabbed two people causing serious injuries.
Callum Michael Allan, 23: alleged drug dealing and assaulting an emergency worker.
Dean Garforth, 29: part of a crime gang that sold drugs and guns.
Joshua Dillon Hendry, 30: accused of trafficking heroin and crack cocain.
Mark Francis Roberts, 28: grievous bodily harm after a bungled attempt to steal a £60,000 watch.
James ‘Jamie’ Stevenson, 56: for arson and over the seizure of a tonne of cocaine.
Nana Oppong, 41: shot a man eight times in a suspected gangland reprisal attack.
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
RESULT
Fifth ODI, at Headingley
England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
