International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 each year. For 2020, the UN selected "Youth Engagement for Global Action" as the theme of the commemoration, a pertinent one given the events that have transpired this past year, with individuals all across the globe facing similar challenges and life-changing transformations.
School-going children have had to switch to a completely new e-learning model that has proven challenging for both them and their teachers. Educators do not have prior experience nor training in teaching children via video calls, while students have trouble focusing on online lessons for extended periods. Moreover, they are missing out on the social aspect of being at school – an essential component of the overall learning experience.
Despite the drawbacks, students have been eager to adapt and power through the situation. Clearly, the youth of this generation is resilient, aware and creative. Now it is up to us – their parents, teachers, leaders – to empower them with the right mix of tools they need in order to grow and achieve their full potential.
Teachers disinfect toys at a kindergarten in South Korea. EPA
Classse are back in Vietnam with children doing gymnastic exercises in a Hanoi elementary school.EPA
Students work on a project at Lysterfield Primary School on May 26, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty
In England, the sign on an entrance gate indicates schools are still closed. Getty
In Italy, students sare back in classes in Bolzano. EPA
Children in Rome study at home. Getty
Some international schools in Beijing are reopening on June 1. AP
A woman looks at pictures of the graduating senior class hung on the fence at a high school in New York. EPA
Perhaps on this year's International Youth Day, we can consider creative solutions to get children across the region back into classrooms, while observing safety and social distancing measures.
In a thought-provoking article for the Financial Times, Jonathan Marvel, a prominent architect and founding principal at Marvel Architects, based in New York and San Juan, outlined some useful ideas to get children back to classrooms safely for the next academic year.
Mr Marvel noted that the pandemic has led many cities to close down streets due to the limited use of commercial indoor spaces. For example, al fresco dining is now the preferred choice in restaurants. Streets are being used for summer recreation, which works well given the reduced traffic as more people work from home. Mr Marvel points out that these spaces can be transformed into makeshift classrooms once the school year begins.
The GCC region has exceptional capabilities and holds vast experience in creating temporary spaces for world-class events – so this concept is definitely implementable in our region. We host myriad industry conferences and trade shows in addition to a wide variety of consumer events every year. We possess the raw materials, collapsible furniture and electrical equipment required to help extend school spaces beyond their brick-and-mortar premises.
With some meticulous planning and investment, we will be able to create classrooms that can allow fewer students to be in a room at a time, and thereby observe mandatory safety measures against the coronavirus.
Adnec already being repurposed
A total of 150 medics will be on site caring for Covid-19 patients
Beds and medical equipment have already been installed
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is to open as an emergency field hospital. All pictures courtesy Adnec
The sprawling site will have the capacity to treat 1,000 patients
Workers help to fit out the vast medical facility
Waves of cubicles have been set up to treat patients safely
The Adnec facility is one of two new field hospitals built in Abu Dhabi
The huge space available at the exhibition centre is being put to good use to help those in need of treatment
Patients who have contracted Covid-19 will be treated at the new facility
Partitioned cubicles have been set up at the Adnec venue
Workmen begin transforming Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre into a huge field hospital. Courtesy: Adnec
The Exhibition centre has been rapidly transformed into a field hospital
This step would significantly reduce the number of individuals in close contact with one another at schools, while allowing students to resume their studies with some semblance of normality. Larger spaces will allow them to maintain safe distance and reduce the risk of contagion.
Above all else, supporting the reopening of schools would boost student morale and serve as an excellent illustration of overcoming unprecedented challenges through finding creative, yet practical solutions.
Of course, this initiative will require the government and education ministries to work closely with the events and exhibitions industry. It also necessitates the mobilisation of considerable resources and investments, albeit those that will provide excellent returns.
Not only will students be inspired to get back to school premises, this solution is certain to alleviate the stress parents are undergoing – pushing their children to stay focused and stimulated from the confines of their homes.
With children back at school, it will mean working parents will have more time and energy to channel towards their professional roles, which will lead to more efficiency and a spike in morale. We can start to move closer to the routines that we were used to before the pandemic hit, albeit with cautiousness needed to keep future infection rates at a minimum.
School preparations ...
Overall, this exercise will boost productivity and enable our region to rebuild the economy and ensure that recovery happens sooner rather than later.
We need to remember that our young generations are exceptionally talented, and it is our responsibility to enable them to unlock their full potential and become active contributors to society. The most powerful lessons are taught by example and we must demonstrate our confidence in our children and their future by channelling all the resources we possibly can towards their secure and prosperous future.
In the spirit of International Youth Day, I encourage you to take a moment to think about the present scenario and the challenges our children are facing. We must all join forces to support them as much as possible and shape solutions that will help them navigate their way through the global pandemic while preparing them to deal with any future crises that may occur in an agile and effective manner.
Mohammed Alardhi is executive chairman of Investcorp, chairman of Bank Sohar and was longest-serving Omani head of the Royal Air Force of Oman
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Sole survivors
Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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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
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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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