President Sheikh Mohamed attended a online G20 Leaders' Summit on Wednesday.
The summit was held to review progress made towards achieving the G20's objectives following the G20 Summit hosted in New Delhi in September.
These include issues relating to climate change, sustainability, energy and international security.
During the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed emphasised the G20's significant focus on climate change this year, which includes efforts to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, advocating for low-cost climate financing for developing countries and announcing biofuels alliance.
He underscored that these initiatives would boost joint efforts made at the upcoming Cop28 conference, which will be held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, where the first global stocktake of commitments made in the 2015 Paris Agreement will take place.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his eagerness to welcome participants to Cop28 next month in co-operating in addressing climate change as one of the world's most pressing challenges.
He also addressed the Gaza conflict, and stressed that the continuing situation in the Gaza Strip would lead to more human tragedies and increased tensions in the region.
Sheikh Mohamed reiterated calls for serious and urgent international action to reach a ceasefire, provide protection to civilians in Gaza and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
He said that the international community, particularly the G20, bears a significant responsibility in working towards peace, stability, development and coexistence in the region.
"Today, I participated in the virtual G20 Leaders' Summit to review progress in addressing shared global challenges across energy, climate, sustainability and international security," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"International co-operation and dialogue are central to our efforts to achieve peace, stability and development for all."
The online summit was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the current chair, and was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Premier Lin Qiang, Japan's Fumio Kishida, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Canada's Justin Trudeau, Australia's Anthony Albanese and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, among others.
The meeting comes as a temporary pause in the Gaza conflict and a hostage deal was agreed by Israel and Hamas after six weeks of war that has left more than 14,000 people dead.
The agreement, secured with help from the US, Qatar and Egypt, promises to create a pause in fighting for the release of some hostages held captive in Gaza.
About 50 hostages are to be released in exchange for 150 Palestinians in Israel. All are women and children. The exact timing of the deal will be announced within 24 hours.
Sheikh Mohamed this week renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire during an online summit of leaders of the Brics countries, which was held to discuss the continuing conflict.
He emphasised the need to protect civilians and provide unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.
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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.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
