President Sheikh Mohamed discussed the Israel-Gaza conflict with Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, on Tuesday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / AFP
President Sheikh Mohamed discussed the Israel-Gaza conflict with Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, on Tuesday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / AFP
President Sheikh Mohamed discussed the Israel-Gaza conflict with Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, on Tuesday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / AFP
President Sheikh Mohamed discussed the Israel-Gaza conflict with Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, on Tuesday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / AFP

President Sheikh Mohamed and Turkish Foreign Minister discuss Israel-Gaza crisis


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President Sheikh Mohamed on Tuesday called for the humanitarian response to the Israel-Gaza war to be intensified during talks with Turkey's Foreign Minister in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE leader and Hakan Fidan underlined the need to assist aid organisations in delivering crucial relief and medical support to civilians affected by the unfolding crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The two men called on the international community to assume responsibility towards "achieving a just, comprehensive and stable peace in the Middle East" in discussions held at Al Shati Palace.

More than 5,700 people have been killed in Gaza and hundreds of thousands more displaced due to retaliatory Israeli bombardments in recent weeks, after Hamas militants launched a surprise assault on the south of Israel on October 7.

At least 12 hospitals and 32 clinics in the Gaza Strip have been shut due to a lack of power and the damage caused by Israeli air strikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry has said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said Hamas's attacks "did not happen in vacuum", adding that Palestinians have been subjected to 56 years of "suffocating occupation".

Palestinian grievances cannot justify appalling Hamas attacks, just as those attacks cannot justify collective Palestinian punishment, he told the UN Security Council.

“At a crucial moment like this, it is vital to be clear on principles, starting with the fundamental principle of respecting and protecting civilians,” Mr Guterres said.

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Fidan also reviewed UAE-Turkish ties during their meeting.

The Turkish minister conveyed the greetings of the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Sheikh Mohamed, who returned similar sentiments.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Adviser for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Court.

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
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  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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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.

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Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions

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Dream City: San Francisco

Hometown: Dubai

City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala

What is Diwali?

The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.

According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.

In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.  

 

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows

Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.

Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.

The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.

After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.

The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.

The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.

But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.

It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.

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Updated: October 24, 2023, 5:58 PM