I refer to the business article, du rings up bumper profit (March 4), and congratulate the company for achieving such profits in a short period of time.
However, when is du going to give cheaper data packages to its customers? We are living in an era where smart phones and cloud computing are taking over our lives. Instead of affordable rates, du is giving many different packages that offer between 500 and 700 free text messages, yet no extra amount of data.
Why on the earth does someone need 700 free text messages? The UAE has one of the highest concentrations of mobile phones in the world, but because of high data costs, customers pay for phones that cannot be used to their full potential.
Shabir Zainudeen, Dubai
More attention for stranded labourers
Thank you for bringing light to the situation of these people, Workers stranded without pay (March 6). This is not the first labour camp I have read such stories about.
I sympathise with these workers and I request more details about how normal UAE citizens like myself can help.
I also want to add an important note on this issue. It is obvious that these labourers are stranded in the country in an illegal situation and are desperate for money. What many do not realise is that such situations lead to crime if their situation is not improved.
Hadi Esper, Dubai
A Keralan set rises in the desert
Your article, A movie adventure in the desert (March 7), was interesting to read. The first Malayalam-language picture that will be shot entirely on location in Abu Dhabi is an occasion worthy of applause.
The Keralan director Priyadarshan has many laurels to his credit; this venture will only add to his prestige. The UAE's scenic locales have already been captured by other Bollywood and Tamil films.
But in this case the combination of the actor Mohanlal, the cinematographer Allagappan and Priyadarshan will certainly be a winning combination. The selection of the UAE for filming will only add to the success.
K Ragavan, Chennai, India
A fan's farewell to a columnist
I want to thank The National for bringing Philippa Kennedy and her thought-provoking articles into my home on a regular basis. I for one thoroughly enjoyed making time to sip my cup of coffee with your paper spread out on the kitchen table and reading all she had to say.
In particular, her last piece, A fond farewell (February 24) hit more than one note of truth. We are all so lucky to be here and really should make the very best out of the experience. Any chance that she might come back?
Clare Iredale, Abu Dhabi
Shark hunting has only one future
It is estimated that 100 million sharks a year are killed for their fins Asian demand drives shark trade (March 5).
When will the people that consume this dwindling resource realise that they are killing life in the ocean? Will they realise it when it is too late? And then what will they do then? What will they destroy after shark fins to appease their appetites?
Cultural tradition or not , sharks are a dwindling species. Wake up and find a new menu item.
Ashley Stander, US
Teachers need more support
"Some teachers are there just to collect a paycheque. They bring a book, a bottle of water and read while students walk in and out of the room, joke around, and get into fights." Those words in the article Boys will be boys, but they still need caring teachers (January 16) reveal a lot.
Tragically, most teachers who find themselves in government schools are grossly unsupported by the system. The principals have no practice of discipline in place, and so students fear no consequences. Furthermore, many of the boys in government schools suffer from improper diets (junk food packed for lunch), lack of sleep, and other issues that prevent them from maintaining good behaviour in the classrooms.
It's time that administrators and parents get serious, or teachers could spend the next 100 years bringing books and a bottle of water into the classroom and letting the children run riot.
DR, Abu Dhabi
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
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.
Andor
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tony%20Gilroy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDiego%20Luna%2C%20Genevieve%20O'Reilly%2C%20Alex%20Ferns%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%205%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
EVIL%20DEAD%20RISE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
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
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
