The president of the European Commission says it is time for EU member states to consider introducing mandatory vaccinations to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference on Wednesday that a third of the bloc’s 450 million population was still unvaccinated against Covid-19.
“I think it is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion now – how we can encourage and potentially think about mandatory vaccination within the European Union,” she said.
“This needs discussion. This needs a common approach. But it is a discussion that I think has to be led.”
She said that while more information was needed to assess the threat posed by the Omicron variant, "we know enough to be concerned".
She said that the EU was "hoping for the best" but "preparing for the worst".
Ms von der Leyen's suggestion on vaccines is likely to gain support from some member states. Germany is already showing signs of following Austria’s path by making Covid-19 vaccines compulsory, as the incoming chancellor on Wednesday threw his support behind the initiative.
Olaf Scholz wants a parliamentary vote on the issue before the end of the year as the country battles a fourth wave of the virus. If approved, compulsory shots could begin as early as February.
"I will vote for it," Mr Scholz told Bild television. He said he also wanted to accelerate Germany's booster shot campaign.
Despite previous assurances that Covid-19 vaccines would be administered on a voluntary basis, there has been growing consensus for a mandate.
In November Austria became the first European nation to announce mandatory vaccines to tackle a surging infection rate. Governments across the continent will be watching closely to see how the measure develops from February 1.
Mr Scholz, a Social Democrat, will be sworn in to replace Angela Merkel as the leader of Europe’s largest economy at a ceremony next week.
Germany’s federal and regional governments on Tuesday agreed to step up the vaccination campaign and restrict social contact, especially for unvaccinated people.
Mr Scholz will join Ms Merkel and the heads of Germany’s 16 states for talks on Thursday to discuss new restrictions, under which are proposed stricter curbs on unvaccinated people, limiting the number of fans at football matches and closing bars and nightclubs in areas with high infection rates.
In the UK, the government has launched a booster shot drive amid the spread of the Omicron variant.
"This isn't a call to arms, but a call to get jabs in arms. And quickly," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
But there is confusion after the government announced an expansion of its booster programme, which includes aiming to offer all adults in England a top-up shot by January 31.
There are reports of queues at vaccination centres, while others have been unable to book their shot despite being eligible to do so.
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said leaders would decide soon on whether vaccination should be compulsory.
Germany is grappling with an increase in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths.
The country on Wednesday reported 67,186 new infections – up 302 from a week ago – the highest daily figure in nine months, and 446 deaths.
The head of Germany’s Divi intensive care medicine lobby said stricter measures were needed to curb the infection rate and protect hospitals from a “particularly dangerous situation”.
Intensive care unit staff have had to find beds for about 1,400 additional coronavirus patients in the past week, said Divi president Gernot Marx, who also predicted that the number of people needing hospital treatment for Covid-19 would exceed the peak during Germany’s second wave last winter.
“We have to protect our staff and prevent our clinics from collapsing under the pressure,” Mr Marx told ZDF television on Wednesday.
He called for mandatory Covid-19 vaccines for all adults and said the step was needed “not just to break the fourth wave but to prevent a fifth and sixth wave”.
It was revealed on Wednesday that four fully vaccinated people had tested positive for the Omicron strain of coronavirus.
Three of them had returned from a business trip to South Africa on November 26 and November 27 respectively. The fourth person is a family member of one of those who travelled, the public health office in the south-western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said.
All four displayed moderate symptoms and are in quarantine, the authority said.
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)
Saturday
Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)
Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)
Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)
Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)
Sunday
Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)
Results
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.
4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Youth YouTuber Programme
The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
- Beating the algorithm and reaching your core audience
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
