Violent clashes broke out in Paris on Saturday as protesters campaigning against anti-Covid restrictions converged on the French capital for a national day of action.
Tensions flared near the famous Moulin Rouge club in the Montmartre district, where lines of police confronted demonstrators, and near the Place de la Republique, where tear gas was fired.
Protesters were seen with cuts and three police officers were injured in clashes. The Interior Ministry said 19 people were arrested, including 10 in Paris.
About 14,240 people marched in the capital, among a total of 204,000 demonstrators across the country, the ministry said.
In southern city Montpellier, there were 10,000 protesters – double the number at a similar rally last weekend. In Mediterranean port city Marseille, 4,800 gathered to demonstrate.
About 3,000 security forces personnel were deployed around Paris for the third weekend of protests against the health pass that will be needed soon to enter public spaces such as restaurants, cinemas, museums and trains.
Police took up posts along the Champs-Elysees to guard against an invasion of the famed avenue.
With Covid-19 infections surging and hospitalisations rising, the French Parliament has passed a bill requiring the pass be used in most public places from August 9.
Opinion polls show a majority of French support the pass, but others are vehemently opposed.
The pass requires a vaccination or a quick negative test or proof of a recent recovery from Covid-19 and mandates vaccine shots for all health care workers by mid-September.
For anti-pass demonstrators, “liberty” was the slogan of the day.
Hager Ameur, a 37-year-old nurse, said she resigned from her job, accusing the government of using a form of “blackmail”.
“I think that we mustn’t be told what to do,” she said. “And now, suddenly we are [also] told that if we don’t get vaccinated it is our fault that people are contaminated. I think it is sickening.”
French authorities are implementing the health pass because the highly contagious Delta variant is making strong inroads.
More than 24,000 new daily cases were confirmed on Friday, compared to just a few thousand cases a day at the start of July.
About 112,000 people have died of the virus in France since the start of the pandemic.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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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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
