At least 35 people were killed in a suicide attack on a tutorial centre in western Kabul on Friday, the UN mission in Afghanistan said.
A suicide bomber blew himself up in a study hall in the Afghan capital as hundreds of pupils were taking tests in preparation for university entrance exams.
The predominantly Shiite district of Dasht-e-Barchi district is home to the minority Hazara community who have been targeted in some of Afghanistan's most brutal attacks in recent years.
Kabul police said 20 people were killed in the bombing at the Kaj Education Centre, but the UN mission put the toll far higher on Saturday.
"The latest casualty figures from the attack number at least 35 fatalities, with an additional 82 wounded," it said.
The updated death toll came dozens of Hazara women protested in Kabul against the repeated attacks on their community.
"Stop Hazara genocide, it's not a crime to be a Shiite," the chanted as they marched past a hospital in Dasht-e-Barchi where several victims of the attack were being treated.
Dressed in black hijabs and headscarves, the protesters carried banners that read: "Stop killing Hazaras".
They later gathered in front of the hospital and chanted slogans as dozens of heavily armed Taliban fighters kept watch.
Women's protests have become risky since the hardline group returned to power last August, with numerous demonstrators detained and rallies broken up by Taliban forces firing shots in the air.
No group has claimed responsibility for Friday's attack. But the extremist group ISIS regards Shiites as heretics and has previously claimed attacks in Dasht-e-Barchi against girls' education centres and mosques.
In May last year at least 85 people — mainly girls — were killed and about 300 were wounded when three bombs exploded near a school in Dasht-e-Barchi.
No group claimed responsibility, but a year earlier ISIS claimed a suicide attack on an educational centre in the same area that killed 24.
The Taliban, who consider ISIS rivals, have also been accused of attacking the Hazara community during their 20-year insurgency against the former US-backed government.
ISIS has continued to carry out attacks despite the Taliban's pledge to protect minorities and improve security after seizing power.
— With reporting from AFP.
COMPANY PROFILE
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Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
RESULTS
5pm: Sweihan – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Shamakh, Fernando Jara (jockey), Jean-Claude Picout (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Shamkha – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Daad, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
6pm: Shakbout City – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Ghayyar, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Gold Silver, Sandro Paiva, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Masdar City – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Khalifa City – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Ranchero, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
While you're here
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
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.
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
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8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
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9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
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- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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