A solar eclipse on Saturday morning will create a “ring of fire” in the skies over the US Southwest and Oregon.
Millions more people in the US, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico will also be able to experience the annular eclipse.
When, where and how to watch the solar eclipse
According to Nasa, the annular eclipse is set to commence at 9.13am Pacific time in Oregon and conclude at 12.03pm Central time in Texas.
This celestial event will traverse Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and Central America, proceeding through Colombia and Brazil before fading.
Although individuals across continental US will have the opportunity to witness a partial eclipse, the awe-inspiring “ring of fire” will exclusively be visible to those in Oregon and the Southwest.
This rare occurrence will not happen again in the country until 2046.
Importantly, Nasa advises viewers against looking directly into the Sun during an annular eclipse, as tempting as it might be.
“Partial or annular solar eclipses are different from total solar eclipses – there is no period of totality when the Moon completely blocks the Sun's bright face,” Nasa's website states.
“Therefore, during partial or annular solar eclipses, it is never safe to look directly at the eclipse without proper eye protection.
“When watching a partial or annular solar eclipse directly with your eyes, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (eclipse glasses) or a safe hand-held solar viewer at all times.”
Eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than standard sunglasses.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth.
The solar eclipse on Saturday will be an annular one – meaning the Moon will appear as a dark disc in front of the Sun, creating the illusion of a ring of fire around the Moon, hence the name.
There are several other types of eclipse:
Total eclipse
A total eclipse occurs when the Moon completely blots out the Sun's light.
People experience it if they are in the centre of the Moon's shadow when it hits Earth.
The sky darkens as if it were dawn or dusk, regardless of the time of day.
In some cases, people can see the Sun's corona, the outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright light from the Sun's surface.
Partial eclipse
This occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun but they are not perfectly aligned. Only part of the Sun is covered, giving it a crescent shape.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
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Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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 Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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
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