Regarding the article Arrested Man City fan denies making racist gestures in video (December 9): This is awful! It's almost 2020 and people supposedly from first world countries still think and behave this way!
Teeba Nord, Dubai
The road that bypasses traffic is great news for commuters
With regard to the report Expanded inter-emirate goods road to provide crucial Expo 2020 Dubai access (December 9): this is much needed. It will provide better access to Emirates Road for the drivers from Abu Dhabi who are looking to bypass Dubai and head towards Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.
Abdullah Shahid Farooq, Abu Dhabi
Thank you for the book reviews in an excellent newspaper
As a life-long Abu Dhabi resident, I appreciate your Abu Dhabi-centric approach to the news. Prior to your paper, we ‘Abu Dhabians’ were stuck with English dailies based mostly in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Your introduction to the scene has been refreshing and much needed. Although I have been a reader of The National for a long time, I only recently subscribed. This is due mainly to your constantly valuable articles. One of the contributors I would like to especially mention is your book reviewer Steve Donoghue. I most look forward to reading him.
Ahmed, Abu Dhabi
Some of these steps can help put an end to crimes against women
This is with reference to the piece by Nivriti Butalia For women to be safe, people's mindsets need to change around the world (December 8): she has done well to provide a perspective on women being ill-treated and raped in many countries.
It is also bizarre that many youngsters know the penalties of the crime yet commit these crimes brazenly, despite having wives and families at home. Greater education, empowerment of women, stricter laws, rapid enforcement of laws, social pressure on the culprits, rapid court trials are some steps to tackle this depressing problem. Above all, we need attitudes to change.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
The British people deserve to live in peace after they go to the polls
With reference to HA Hellyer's op-ed Whoever wins the British election must fight the rise of hate and bigotry (December 9): as Mr Hellyer's analysis rightly mentioned, hate and bigotry should be eradicated, regardless of who comes to power. Across the globe, the idea of tolerance seems to be slowly vanishing. After years of controversial debates around Brexit, the British people deserve to live in peace. The new government should be able to give them that.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
More on Turkey's Syria offence
match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research
%3Cp%3EThe%20Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research%20is%20a%20partnership%20between%20Great%20Ormond%20Street%20Hospital%2C%20University%20College%20London%20and%20Great%20Ormond%20Street%20Hospital%20Children%E2%80%99s%20Charity%20and%20was%20made%20possible%20thanks%20to%20a%20generous%20%C2%A360%20million%20gift%20in%202014%20from%20Sheikha%20Fatima%20bint%20Mubarak%2C%20Chairwoman%20of%20the%20General%20Women's%20Union%2C%20President%20of%20the%20Supreme%20Council%20for%20Motherhood%20and%20Childhood%2C%20and%20Supreme%20Chairwoman%20of%20the%20Family%20Development%20Foundation.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
