• Public health nurse Kathy Luu administers a dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to a staff member at the Ararat Nursing Facility in the Mission Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California. AFP
    Public health nurse Kathy Luu administers a dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to a staff member at the Ararat Nursing Facility in the Mission Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California. AFP
  • A healthcare worker tests for Covid-19, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. AP Photo
    A healthcare worker tests for Covid-19, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. AP Photo
  • A nurse wears a badge reading "I get vaccinated, I protect you" at the Cavale Blanche hospital in Brest, western France during a vaccination operation of the medical staff against the Covid-19 disease. AFP
    A nurse wears a badge reading "I get vaccinated, I protect you" at the Cavale Blanche hospital in Brest, western France during a vaccination operation of the medical staff against the Covid-19 disease. AFP
  • A worker installs equipment in a temporary Covid-19 testing laboratory built on an indoor tennis court in Shijiazhuang in northern China's Hebei Province. Xinhua via AP
    A worker installs equipment in a temporary Covid-19 testing laboratory built on an indoor tennis court in Shijiazhuang in northern China's Hebei Province. Xinhua via AP
  • Volunteer and medical student Tereza Zalesakova treats a Covid-19 patient in an intensive care unit at Prague's General University Hospital. AFP
    Volunteer and medical student Tereza Zalesakova treats a Covid-19 patient in an intensive care unit at Prague's General University Hospital. AFP
  • Candles and flowers are placed by a relative on the grave of Joao Marinho, 76, who passed away due to Covid-19 at the Parque Taruma cemetery in Manaus, Brazil. Reuters
    Candles and flowers are placed by a relative on the grave of Joao Marinho, 76, who passed away due to Covid-19 at the Parque Taruma cemetery in Manaus, Brazil. Reuters
  • A church worker carries a placard reminding mass-goers to maintain physical distancing outside Quiapo Church in Manila, Philippines. Reuters
    A church worker carries a placard reminding mass-goers to maintain physical distancing outside Quiapo Church in Manila, Philippines. Reuters
  • A waiter picks up a sweet takeaway at a bakery in the Gothic Quartier in Barcelona, Spain. Reuters
    A waiter picks up a sweet takeaway at a bakery in the Gothic Quartier in Barcelona, Spain. Reuters
  • A woman walka back home from work in Spruitview near Johannesburg, South Africa. AP Photo
    A woman walka back home from work in Spruitview near Johannesburg, South Africa. AP Photo
  • A man transports children on his tricycle, in Havana, Cuba. AP Photo
    A man transports children on his tricycle, in Havana, Cuba. AP Photo
  • An empty main road seen during a complete closure amid the ongoing Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic in Gaza City. EPA
    An empty main road seen during a complete closure amid the ongoing Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic in Gaza City. EPA
  • US President-elect Joe Biden removes his mask as he announces members of economics and jobs team at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, US. Reuters
    US President-elect Joe Biden removes his mask as he announces members of economics and jobs team at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, US. Reuters

Coronavirus latest: Tests and quarantine as UK hits new record for deaths


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Top stories

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber

The biog

Name: Capt Shadia Khasif

Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police

Family: Five sons and three daughters

The first female investigator in Hatta.

Role Model: Father

She believes that there is a solution to every problem

 

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet

Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20The%20Cloud%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20George%20Karam%20and%20Kamil%20Rogalinski%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Food%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%2B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Olayan%20Financing%2C%20Rua%20Growth%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape

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.