The French national flag flies at half-mast beside the flag of the UAE, in front of the Habtoor Business Tower location of the French Consulate in Dubai. EPA
The French national flag flies at half-mast beside the flag of the UAE, in front of the Habtoor Business Tower location of the French Consulate in Dubai. EPA

UAE condemns ‘heinous’ Paris attacks



The President, Sheikh Khalifa, has condemned the “heinous” terrorist attacks in Paris in a message of condolence to French president Francois Hollande, while the French embassy has warned its citizens in the UAE to stay vigilant.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also sent a message of support, as did Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Sheikh Khalifa stressed the UAE’s condemnation of terrorism in all forms, saying cooperation and solidarity at all levels were required to eradicate it. He said the UAE was “fully prepared to cooperate” with France in all measures, and that terrorism was a threat to all moral values and international laws.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said the struggle against extremists needing a comprehensive approach.

“The terrorist outrage in Paris proves that much more must be done to combat extremism and terrorism by all of us. None is immune,” he said on Twitter, adding that there are “no grey areas” in the UAE’s view on terrorism.

The French embassy has warned its citizens in the UAE to stay vigilant. It urged those who want to check on loved ones in Paris to call an emergency number set up by police: +33 800 40 60 05.

French nationals stayed up until early hours in the morning monitoring the situation and checking on their loved ones after the blasts and shootings.

“I couldn’t sleep. It was an incident that kept multiplying into a horrific nightmare,” said Laure Ple, a French nurse in Dubai. “I’m still processing what is going on. I was on my phone and Facebook all night long making sure everyone is OK.

“I’ve always felt safe in Dubai but I wonder if we are becoming a target everywhere in the world.”

Jean-Yves Carnino, director at Alliance Francaise in Abu Dhabi, voiced the shock felt by the French community in the UAE.

“My son was around one of the blast sites there and parking his car but survived unhurt, while some of my friends lost their lives and many were injured,” he said.

“We are highly traumatised and shocked about the series of blasts in the hearts of the city. We are very concerned, as my family is back home. This is not kind of thing we expect.”

Alliance Francaise Abu Dhabi, a French cultural association that promotes linguistic training and social activities, will be closed until Tuesday afternoon to mourn the victims of the attack, said Mr Carnino, who has lived in the UAE for three years.

“I don’t know what to say today. I am voiceless and I don’t have words describe this heinous attack. There is a war-like situation back home. It’s extremely painful,” he said.

UAE airlines Emirates and Etihad Airways said no disruptions have occurred to flights. However, Etihad has said it will offer options for passengers who wish to change their travel plans.

Passengers who purchased tickets to or from on or before November 13 can change their flight on or before November 30, and those who wish to rebook a more expensive ticket can select the higher fare and pay the difference, a spokesman said.

anwar@thenational.ae

nalremeithi@thenational.ae

Additional reporting by Caline Malek

Specs

Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
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Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
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  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
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  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

How Sputnik V works
The specs

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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The bio

Who inspires you?

I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist

How do you relax?

Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.

What is favourite book?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times

What is your favourite Arabic film?

Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki

What is favourite English film?

Mamma Mia

Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?

If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.  

 

Match info:

Manchester City 2
Sterling (8'), Walker (52')

Newcastle United 1
Yedlin (30')

U19 World Cup in South Africa

Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies

Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe

Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE

UAE fixtures

Saturday, January 18, v Canada

Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan

Saturday, January 25, v South Africa

UAE squad

Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon

What is Genes in Space?

Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.

It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration. 

SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)

Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),

Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),

Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)

Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm) 

Benevento v Napoli (6pm) 

Parma v Spezia (6pm)

 Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)

Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)

Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)

The BIO

Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.

Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.

Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.

Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.

'Dark Waters'

Directed by: Todd Haynes

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper 

Rating: ****