Several Boeing 777X aircraft in various stages of production at the Boeing production facility in Everett, Washington, US. Reuters
Several Boeing 777X aircraft in various stages of production at the Boeing production facility in Everett, Washington, US. Reuters
Several Boeing 777X aircraft in various stages of production at the Boeing production facility in Everett, Washington, US. Reuters
Several Boeing 777X aircraft in various stages of production at the Boeing production facility in Everett, Washington, US. Reuters

Boeing suspends load testing on 777X widebody


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Boeing, the world's biggest planemaker, said it stopped testing of its new 777X widebody plane on Saturday after facing an issue during the ground stress test.

"During final load testing on the 777X static test airplane, the team encountered an issue that required suspension of the test," a Boeing spokeswoman said in an emailed statement on Sunday. "The event is under review and the team is working to understand the root cause."

The 777X, Boeing's newest plane, is undergoing final load testing and the high-stress test is the final in a series of tests that the jetmaker has been conducting in recent months.

"The testing conditions were well beyond any load expected in commercial service," Boeing said, without providing details of the issue its team encountered during testing.

Boeing had earlier said it would postpone the 777X’s first flight to 2020 and deliveries would be delayed amid problems with its General Electric-made engines.

The planemaker is under heavy scrutiny by global aviation regulators for its 737 Max narrowbody, which was grounded in March after two crashes killed 346 people. No official date is set for the plane’s return to service.

Emirates president Tim Clark, who oversees the world's biggest international carrier and launch customer of the 777X, issued a stern message to Boeing and its European rival Airbus last week, saying he is no longer prepared to take delivery of aircraft that don’t meet specifications, Bloomberg reported.

Mr Clark said it was impossible to know when the 777X will enter service after Boeing pushed back the first flight to 2020 and said deliveries may be delayed amid problems with its GE-made turbines, according to Bloomberg. Emirates has placed 150 orders for the plane.

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

Favourite activities: Bungee jumping

Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

Scores

New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs 

New Zealand win by 47 runs

The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 400hp

Torque: 500Nm

Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)

On sale: 2022 

Prophets of Rage

(Fantasy Records)