A return to the top flight Netball Championship is the main prize on offer when the UAE compete at the U17 Europe Challenge in Gibraltar, starting Friday.
The Eyasses, as they are popularly known, face Switzerland and then Gibraltar in the second game on the opening day of the quadrangular event. On Saturday, they meet Isle of Man before closing out against Republic of Ireland on Sunday.
The team that tops the league will receive promotion to the Championship that includes England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in February 2023.
“The Eyasses are excited to head into this competition in Gibraltar. We have some tough games ahead of us, but our very clear objective is to win so that we get promoted to the premier Competitive Competition,” Susanne Skelding, the UAE team manager, told The National.
The Eyasses travel to Gibraltar on the back of a silver medal they won at the friendly tournament in Newcastle in March. They defeated Scotland 52-48 and went down to the eventual winners England 85-29.
“One of the reasons we took the opportunity to enter the friendly event in Newcastle was to prepare against the likes of England and Scotland, who play in the Competitive Competition which we are aiming to move into,” Skelding said.
The Eyasses first participated in the 2018 Challenge Competition in Ireland, which they won.
They were promoted for the Competitive league in 2019 and beat beat Northern Ireland in the dying seconds of the game to win the Challenge competition.
However, they were subsequently unable to enter a U17 team due to Covid restrictions, so are back in the Challenge event.
“One of the biggest positives the players took forward from the Scotland match was that the players now really believe in themselves, because Scotland did put a lot of pressure on us,” Deb Jones, the UAE head coach, said.
“So just psychologically within the team there is a massive belief that we can do this and win overall.
“Physically as well, the Eyasses are not going to come up against a team any more physical than Scotland on court and they stood up well against it in Newcastle, coming out with the win. So from a purely playing perspective they know that they have the strength in the tank to actually beat a high level team under pressure.”
Jones believes the girls have prepared well for this tour and are ready for the challenge.
“Their heads are in the game and they definitely want to come away with the win, not just for themselves as a team but as a squad as a whole, so that the UAE gets the promotion it truly deserves,” she added.
UAE Eyasses squad
Olivia Petricola (Captain), Caitlin Gowdy (Vice Captain), Charlie Preston (Vice Captain), Jemma Eley, Molly Fuller, Claire Janssen, Alana Farrell-Morton, Arushi Holt, Eliza Petricola, Isabel Affley, Cristiana Morrall and Tessa Smies.
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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 specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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