The Institute of Economics and Peace, an Australian think tank, published its Global Terror Index for 2020 on Wednesday. It observes a worrying rise in far-right extremism.
Between 2014 and 2019, the number of far-right terrorist attacks rose by 250 per cent and the number of deaths as a consequence by 709 per cent.
Right-wing terrorism still constitutes a relatively small share of attacks worldwide. It is the rate at which it is rising that is concerning.
Certain features make right-wing extremism difficult to prevent. Sixty per cent of far-right terrorists are not affiliated with an organisation, far more than in leftist or Islamist terrorism.
Last year, there were 53 terrorist attacks in the US. It is perhaps unsurprising. American politics today are deeply divided, increasingly unmoderated by a centrist consensus.
A greater number of reasonable conservative positions are now taboo, as a more censorious left labels those with different beliefs to their own as enemies, rather than opponents in debate.
This risks pushing some conservatives into online echo chambers, where there is less challenge and dogma thrives. And anonymous, often encrypted forums with their parallel vocabularies of hate, are hard for authorities to monitor.
Politics has been tense this year, particularly in the US. AFP
With a lack of direction in life, a small but significant minority will fill a void in their identity with the psychosis of extremism
Those with limited opportunity, particularly young men, are vulnerable to this cycle. In regions where jobs are already scarce, the pandemic risks making the situation worse. With a lack of direction in life, a small but significant minority will fill a void in their identity with the psychosis of extremism.
Considering the causes of terrorism by no means excuses it. Instead, it treats extremism as a problem that should be tackled. The Middle East has been making progress in this regard. Eighteen nations in the region have a reduced level of terrorism this year. The UAE was described as having a "perfect record", with no attacks in the past five years.
The Middle East’s deradicalisation programmes have mostly proven to be more effective than those in the West. From the efforts of Saudi Arabia’s internal deradicalisation program, to the joint partnership between the UAE, UNESCO and Iraq in restoring Mosul’s Al Nouri mosque, reviving a symbol of traditional Islamic values, serious efforts are being exerted to negate the mantra of hate extremists want to promote.
In the West, however, the challenge is growing. Deradicalisation programmes there have unimpressive records. This month, when a terrorist in Austria killed four people, authorities subsequently revealed he had been taken off such a programme because he was deemed no longer a threat.
While the West improves on these areas, it should in parallel address the social causes of terrorism.
Not all extremists can be rehabilitated, but those newly possessed by radical ideology might not necessarily be lost to it irrevocably. A 15-year-old girl, groomed by adults to join ISIS, or a young boy with learning difficulties who is given a bomb, is not the same person as someone who premeditates a rampage in a New Zealand mosque while livestreaming the attack. They are not the same as members of the infamous ISIS Beatles cell, who are criminals turned executioners.
Long-time terrorist leaders are also more likely driven by nihilistic political agendas, than ideological ones. Osama bin Laden or ISIS's top brass all had, as their core purpose, the attainment of political notoriety.
For the moderate majority, the aim of ending terrorism often feels hopeless. Most cannot comprehend the process by which someone becomes inspired by nihilism and death. Regardless, countries need to define their values robustly. All must feel included, especially those at risk of radicalisation. Without doing so, extremism in its many forms risks rising further.
Results
6.30pm: Madjani Stakes Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m, Winner: RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Mnasek, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Grand Dubai, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
Option 2: 50% across three years
Option 3: 30% across five years
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
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
UK’s AI plan
AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
£10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
£100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
£250m to train new AI models
RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties) Esperance: Belaili 38’ Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
