The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have announced their finalists for the 2023 competition.
Out of thousands of entries, this year’s shortlist is made up of 41 stand-alone photographs as well as three videos and three portfolio entries.
The shortlisted photographs include Air Guitar Roo by Jason Moore, showing a kangaroo seemingly playing the air guitar; Hang Loose by Christian Hargasser, starring a young cub with an unusual but cozy resting spot; and Dispute by Jacek Stankiewicz, in which two birds look like they are having an argument.
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards were founded in 2015 by photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, who wanted to create a competition that focused on the lighter side of wildlife photography while also promoting conservation.
Each year the competition supports a sustainable conservation organisation and this year it has chosen the Whitley Fund for Nature. The UK charity supports conservation leaders working in their home countries across the Global South. Now in its 30th year, it has helped raise £20 million for more than 200 conservationists in 80 countries.
The overall winner, category winners and highly commended winners will be announced on November 23. The public can also get involved by voting for their favourite picture in the Affinity Photo People’s Choice Award.
The winner of the top overall image will win a one-week safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, as well as a handmade trophy from the Art Garage in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
More information is available at www.comedywildlifephoto.com
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
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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.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
