As Michael Jackson once sang: "If they say why, why ... Tell them that it's human nature -"
Human nature can be very entertaining. Take, for example, what occurs when you place a "creative" homo sapien in a vehicle and send him or her out on the roads of the UAE.
If you can extract yourself from the clear and present dangers of driving - ideally by being a passenger in someone else's vehicle - you can sit back and enjoy the show.
The audience can witness a regular and uniquely unpredictable ballet of swaying cars to and fro all along the motorway or street, randomly from left to right. Behold the intriguing five-lane swapping and far right U-turning with seemingly no real destination in mind. Thrill to the cacophonous horn opera accompanying the delightful event.
You could toss a coin to predict where these people will steer their cars next - heads it's a left, tails it's a right. Where it lands - and where they go - goodness only knows. And this is where I begin to question myself. Could it be that people around me do not realise what the protruding wick on the left side of the steering wheel is really for? Or is it there for decoration and I am the fool for using my signal?
I remember my driving lessons. All 50 hours of them, the instructor continuously hammered home the importance of alerting other drivers around me of my intentions on the road. From turning to slowing down, from moving to the left or right lane, I was told to always warn others as to what I was up to. The signal is essential because mental telepathy is not a common human talent. In fact, telepathy is the supposed communication of thoughts or ideas by means other than the known senses.
I was once whacked over the head because I failed to keep my indicators on as I was parking, even though I was almost fully into my spot, and I'll never forget the lecture that followed. The speech nearly killed my driving buzz. In that very moment, the thought that I could kill or be killed suddenly became clear to me; that was quite a heavy responsibility being dropped on my head.
Every day, no matter who is with me or in whose car I'm parading around in, I almost always end up delivering the heart attack inducing shout of "Signal!"
The shout goes out if you're going to cut me off while attempting to U-turn from the far right lane.
Or, if you're going to take that space up ahead in the Spinneys car park.
Or if you're going to suddenly stop at the bank's ATM to get some cash.
Driving is fun - for me, it is more than going from point A to point B. I can jump into a car and drive until the petrol tank runs dry with no real destination, just for the pleasure of being behind the wheel.
But whenever I am on the road, my instructor's speech and the sting of that smack over the head comes back into my mind. No matter where I am driving, I make sure I do all I can to alert those around me as to what my intentions are.
Here's a thought: if you cannot read other people's minds, the likelihood that they can read yours is ridiculously low. So please, I beg you, when you are out on the roads - Signal!
psantos@thenational.ae
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
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
Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company%20Profile
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BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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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.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
