A display of strong Emirati community spirit

A display of strong Emirati community spirit

With reference to the report by Shuchita Gautam and Shireena Al Nowais Hundreds attend funeral of elderly American woman who died in Abu Dhabi (November 21): This is a very touching story.

Ahmed Amir, Hyderabad, India

As a Muslim American I can’t tell you how much this warms my heart. May God bless all of those who attended and have mercy on her soul.

Daoud Shalouf, Dubai

A great win for Saudi Arabia

With reference to Mariam Nihal's article 'They came, they saw, they conquered': fans in Saudi Arabia celebrate national holiday (November 23): Saudi played really well. I’m so pleased for them.

Qast Malik, York, UK

Congratulations to my brothers and sisters from Saudi Arabia on this great match victory. They played really well and deserved to win. Love and best wishes from myself and fellow Pakistani football fans.

Yasser Ahmed, Dubai

Tightened belts at Thanksgiving

With reference to Willy Lowry's report High inflation eats into Americans' Thanksgiving dinner plans (November 23): It's very upsetting and affects families across the country. Americans are seeing hard times and I would say, largely due to the Democrats' failed economic/green new deal, energy policies.

Kadie Cochrane, Ohio, US

A horrific crime in India calls for stronger laws

With regard to Taniya Dutta's article Indian chef Aftab Ameen Poonawala confesses to murdering and dismembering his girl friend (November 22): this murder has shaken the county. For the past fortnight, it has been sensational news in the capital with the media analysing angles of what led to such a horrific crime. The accused used to beat her often. She feared for her life, as she wrote in an earlier police complaint before he took her life. And while there is the domestic violence angle, the cause for this murder is yet to be known, even though the accused has admitted guilt and mentioned it happening in the "heat of the moment".

What is also shocking is the number of gruesome crimes in recent months. Indian society needs to introspect and fix the problem before more such inhuman acts take place or become the norm. Poonawala should be punished severely. This case ought to serve as an eye opener for others even considering resorting to such barbarism. Human lives are precious and no one has got the right to kill. Criminals will be deterred if the country implements strong judicial measures.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India

The biog

Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball

Sole survivors

Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.

FIGHT%20CARD

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How to help

Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.

Account name: Dar Al Ber Society

Account Number: 11 530 734

IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734

Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae

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.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE