A new breeding colony of flamingoes was discovered living in the suburbs of Abu Dhabi. Around 18,000 birds, including 600 chicks, were found near the Musaffah Channel. Flamingoes have bred in the UAE only twice before, preferring to spend their winters here before nesting on the shores of the Caspian Sea and parts of Central Asia.
More than 40,000 Japanese have now passed their 100th birthday, making the country the most rapidly ageing in the world. Figures released by the government for the forthcoming Respect For The Aged Day, showed that 87 per cent of centenarians were women, and that their numbers had grown by 10 per cent in just a year. The increase will put pressure on Japan's welfare system, where three people of working age support each pensioner. It is predicted that the ratio will rise to one to one within 50 years.
The pop star Elton John was told he would not be able to adopt a 14-month-old boy from Ukraine. Sir Elton said Lev had "stolen his heart" during a visit to an orphanage for his anti-Aids charity. However, authorities in Ukraine said the singer was not a suitable parent for Lev, who is HIV positive, because he was too old at 62 and his civil partnership with a man was not recognised as a valid form of marriage in the country.
A raid involving US forces in Somalia was believed to have killed one of the world's most wanted terrorists. Salah Ali Saleh Nabhan was wanted for attacks on a hotel and an Israeli airliner in the Kenyan port of Mombasa in 2002. American special forces were said to have taken part in an helicopter assault in the town of Barawe in the south of the country. Some reports said troops wearing French uniforms were also involved, although this was later denied by Paris. The attack on a vehicle left two dead with two more taken away by the troops.
A child bride died while giving birth in the Hodeida Province of Yemen. Fawziya Abdullah Youssef was only 11 when she was married to a 24-year-old farmer from Saudi Arabia. She died of severe bleeding after giving birth to a stillborn baby in a district hospital around 220km from San'aa. The Yemen social affairs ministry estimates around a quarter of women are married before the age of 15. An attempt to raise the minimum legal age to 17 is being challenged by a number of members of parliament.
A member of the Italian mafia told a court that he deliberately sank shiploads of toxic waste as part of an illegal operation. Giving evidence, the informant said the mafia had taken control of waste disposal operations in Calabria. He arranged for ships carrying the waste to be sunk off the coast instead of being disposed properly. Authorities say they have found one shipwreck they fear may be holding rusting drums of radioactive waste and fear there may be up to 30 more.
An Iraqi journalist imprisoned for throwing his shoes at President Bush said he had been tortured while in custody.
Muntazer al Zaid claimed he had been water-boarded while serving nine months of his three-year sentence. He also said he had been subject to electric shocks and beaten with cables. The reporter, 30, is also demanding an apology from the Iraqi prime minister.
Digital pirates seized copies of Dan Brown's new thriller within hours of it publication. Illegal downloads of The Lost Symbol were available on a number of websites, including Pirate Bay. Although publishers had mounted what they described as an "unprecedented" security operation before publication, copies were immediately scanned and made available after the book went on sale in bookshops.
Keeping his promise to a fallen friend and comrade, a British soldier attended the funeral of his best friend wearing a woman's dress. Private Barry Delaney of the Black Watch Regiment had made a pact with Kevin Elliott that if either was killed in Afghanistan, the other would put on a dress for the funeral. After Private Elliott was killed on foot patrol last month, Private Delaney honoured the pledge by attending the funeral wearing a bright green dress and pink leg-warmers.
The world's tallest man was discovered living in Turkey. The existence of 2.47m tall Sutlan Kosen was revealed during the launch of the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records. Mr Kosen is 10cm taller than the previous world record holder, Bao Xishun, from China. At 27.5cm and 36.5cm respectively, his hands and feet are also the biggest in the world. Interviewed in London, Mr Kosen said: "The first thing I want to do is have a car that I can fit in but more than that I want to get married. Up until now it's been really difficult to find a girlfriend. I've never had one, they were usually scared of me. I'm hoping now I will find one."
The head of a leading Formula One team was removed from his post after it was claimed he had ordered one of his drivers to crash. Flavio Briatore, and Italian millionaire, is alleged to have told the Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash during the Singapore Grand Prix to slow down cars and let his fellow Renault driver win the race. The scandal has been described as one of the worst examples of cheating in the history of sport and had ended any hopes of Briatore taking over from Bernie Ecclestone at the top of Formula One.
The government of Abu Dhabi donated $150 million (Dh551m) to a children's hospital in Washington. The gift to the Children's National Medical Centre is one of the largest contributions to paediatric medical research and will fund the establishment of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation.
A proposal to build the world's tallest building in Abu Dhabi was reported to have been thrown out because it would have interfered with air traffic. At 224 storeys, Al Imlaq - The Giant - would have dwarfed the Burj Dubai and would have been built on an island near Saadiyat. Al Imlaq was designed by Tommy Landau, a Californian architect and would have cost US$3.5 billion (Dh12.8bn) with a giant exterior clock at the half way point, which would also have been the height of the Empire State Building. The project is said to have been vetoed after being shown to Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed, a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
jlangton@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Spider-Man%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Insomniac%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%20Sony%20Interactive%20Entertainment%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPlayStation%205%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
ARM%20IPO%20DETAILS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShare%20price%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETarget%20raise%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%248%20billion%20to%20%2410%20billion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProjected%20valuation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2460%20billion%20to%20%2470%20billion%20(Source%3A%20Bloomberg)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELead%20underwriters%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Barclays%2C%20Goldman%20Sachs%20Group%2C%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20and%20Mizuho%20Financial%20Group%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
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
The biog
Favourite Quote: “Real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction emerge from its ashes,” by The late king Hussain of Jordan.
Favourite Hobby: Writing and cooking
Favourite Book: The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The%20Caine%20Mutiny%20Court-Martial%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWilliam%20Friedkin%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKiefer%20Sutherland%2C%20Jason%20Clarke%2C%20Jake%20Lacy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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