A reader says the documentary A Place Called Home that highlights stories of expatriate workers such as Evelyn Mayormita, above, will help us develop respect for each other even more.
A reader says the documentary A Place Called Home that highlights stories of expatriate workers such as Evelyn Mayormita, above, will help us develop respect for each other even more.

Many of us can relate to the new documentary



The new documentary, based on the experience of workers from four countries, is going to be interesting since many of us will be able to relate to the film (The sacrifices for our children, January 15). The UAE is home to tens of thousands of expatriates who have left their homes behind to eke out a better living. Their hardships, sorrows and struggles will help us learn to respect each other even more.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

Like celebrities, we too miss the Emirates

The pictures you have posted on Facebook of celebrities enamoured by the UAE are lovely (Celebrities that love the UAE too much, January 14). They revived my memories. I am an Iraqi and I had to leave the country after staying there for eight years, because I couldn't find an appropriate job. I miss the UAE, especially Al Ain.

Moustafa Sagban, US

I am from the Czech Republic and I studied in the UAE for eight years. I am trying to go back there because I love the country.

Kristina Svobodová, Czech Republic

I have lived in many countries. But none is as addictive as the UAE. You realise that once you are away from the UAE. I lived there for many years with my parents. I started missing it when I left for my home country for higher studies. I will consider myself lucky if I can go back to the UAE one day .

Anusha Nair, India

Spare a thought for refugees

The plight of Syrian refugees is heartbreaking (UAE aid airlift to Syrian refugees, January 7). Harsh weather conditions in the region is adding to their misery. The UAE's thoughtfulness in sending supplies of basic items to those in desperate need is appreciable. Citizens and residents of the UAE should generously contribute towards this relief effort.

It is painful that millions of people in these refugee camps have no food or other basic necessities, while people in many countries continue to waste food. It’s time that we realise this. Small actions on our part can make a big difference.

Name withheld by request

Sports persons aware of risks

Taking part in any sport is the choice of the individual (USA Swimming anger at decision to host open water race in UAE, January 17). They all know the risks when they do these things, and every sports person is aware of the long-term consequences of a lifetime of training and injuries, training with injuries and competing for years. They know how it can affect their bodies in later life. Yet they push themselves to their limits and beyond.

It is their choice. The location of any event is not on their priority list. The fact that they have been accepted to compete is what is important to them. Their fitness level and determination are paramount to them.

Jacqueline Wood, UK

Are holidays in UAE generous?

With reference to your article How the UAE ranks for holidays (January 17), workers in this country are rarely, if ever, "treated" to 11 public holidays a year. Take as an example Eid Al Adha 2014. This was a three-day public holiday.

For the private sector, the government announced that the holiday would start on October 3 (Friday), with work resuming on October 6. Most private-sector employees are off on Friday and Saturday anyway, so the actual holiday was one day. It’s the same story with the Prophet’s birthday at the start of this year. This is a regular story; Saturday in particular is often declared a holiday so that many workers see no benefit anyway.

There is no pressure on the government to change this since public-sector holidays are significantly more generous. So the UAE is not “slightly below the global average”, it is significantly below the global average.

As for the argument about workers enjoying a reportedly generous two-day weekend, let’s just remember that this is an international norm, at least for professional workers.

David Bettencourt, Dubai

Brief scores

Toss India, chose to bat

India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)

Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)

India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method

England Test squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.

Book%20Details
%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EThree%20Centuries%20of%20Travel%20Writing%20by%20Muslim%20Women%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEditors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiobhan%20Lambert-Hurley%2C%20Daniel%20Majchrowicz%2C%20Sunil%20Sharma%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndiana%20University%20Press%3B%20532%20pages%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

Copa del Rey

Semi-final, first leg

Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')

Second leg, February 27

Tickets

Tickets for the 2019 Asian Cup are available online, via www.asiancup2019.com

Ponti

Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Team Angel Wolf Beach Blast takes place every Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm

Tour de France Stage 16:

165km run from Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans-sur-Isère

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday Stuttgart v Cologne (Kick-off 10.30pm UAE)

Saturday RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin (5.30pm)

Mainz v Borussia Monchengladbach (5.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)

Union Berlin v SC Freiburg (5.30pm)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (5.30pm)

Sunday Wolfsburg v Arminia (6.30pm)

Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim (9pm)

Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg (11.30pm)

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The Energy Research Centre

Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.

New Zealand T20 squad

New Zealand T20 squad: Tim Southee (captain), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Will Young 

liverpool youngsters

Ki-Jana Hoever

The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.

 

Herbie Kane

Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.

 

Luis Longstaff

Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.

 

Yasser Larouci

An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.

 

Adam Lewis

Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.

T20 World Cup Qualifier

Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets

Qualified teams

1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman

T20 World Cup 2020, Australia

Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland

The specs: 2018 Genesis G70

Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000

Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)

What is THAAD?

It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.

Production:

It was first created in 2008.

Speed:

THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.

Abilities:

THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".

Purpose:

To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.

Range:

THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.

Creators:

Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.

UAE and THAAD:

In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.