With reference to your online video Abu Dhabi police release footage of multi-car accident to highlight deadly dangers of reckless driving (November 18), driving habits will not and cannot change until people's attitudes change. Believing that having more money and a bigger vehicle gives one carte blanche to behave any way one likes needs to stop. Only then will these driving habits stop.
This is not unique to here, it is a phenomenon across the globe. I have seen this kind of driving in London, Paris and even in remote locations of the UK and France of late.
We need to respect one another and co-habit peacefully and show kindness. It costs nothing to let another driver in or stop at a zebra crossing.
Tanya Milbourne, Dubai
There are too many people driving too fast, too close. Cut that out and you will prevent a large chunk of accidents.
Neil Squibs, UAE
Bad drivers should be taken off the road altogether. No more options to retrieve your car from being impounded and no more reckless driving with only a monetary penalty issued. Also, it should be made inconvenient for them. Stop them on the roads and make them pay in person.
Issuing fines by text message and letting people pay online is not enough of a deterrent for some of the people who drive this way.
Lisa Kereliuk, Abu Dhabi
People should be educated in schools, where they can learn to drive, get practical lessons and understand the consequences of such driving.
Unless people change their mindsets, such episodes are hard to stop. I wish everyone understood that their driving could destroy someone’s family.
Mohsin Shawl, UAE
Netanyahu is fighting for survival amid political turmoil
Regarding your story Pressure builds on Benjamin Netanyahu to call early elections (November 16), The National's article covering the ongoing crisis in Israel after the resignation of defence minister Avigdor Lieberman was incisive.
Mr Netanyahu might now be pressured to hold early elections. His ruling coalition has been left with a one-seat majority and he is now heavily dependent on finance minister Moshe Kahlon.
Whether his meetings this week to ensure his survival will bring fruitful results remains to be seen.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru
Model Gigi Hadid should be praised for respecting roots
In response to the story I'm as Palestinian as I am Dutch: Gigi Hadid hits back at critics (November 18), in which the model has spoken out against accusations she is not "Arab enough", I think it's nice to see that she is true to her roots.
Hamed Afridi, Pakistan
It actually means a lot that she is making this statement. Kudos to her.
Hayfa AbdulJaber, Abu Dhabi
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
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.
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
