Antonio Guterres (L) and Antony Blinken said 'an immediate, fully respected ceasefire' in Sudan was vital. AP
Antonio Guterres (L) and Antony Blinken said 'an immediate, fully respected ceasefire' in Sudan was vital. AP
Antonio Guterres (L) and Antony Blinken said 'an immediate, fully respected ceasefire' in Sudan was vital. AP
Antonio Guterres (L) and Antony Blinken said 'an immediate, fully respected ceasefire' in Sudan was vital. AP

Guterres and Blinken discuss 'critical importance' of Sudan ceasefire


Willy Lowry
  • English
  • Arabic

Follow the latest developments on the Sudan crisis here

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Sudan.

They spoke of the "critical importance for an immediate, fully respected ceasefire" among other topics, the UN said.

More than 400 people have been killed as army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan leads the battle against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now run by his former deputy Gen Mohamed Dagalo.

The two generals agreed to a fragile 72-hour ceasefire on Monday that slowed but did not stop the fighting.

“Both Secretary Blinken and myself were trying to broker ceasefires, successive ceasefires, in both cases with some success but not the success we would like to have,” Mr Guterres said.

Mr Blinken added that the two were working on bringing an end to the crisis.

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October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
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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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  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Name: Mamo 

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  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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Updated: April 28, 2023, 5:18 AM`