With reference to Anam Rizvi's story Coronavirus: Dubai landlord hailed a hero after offering tenant Dh100,000 rent reprieve (November 12): it is often in times of adversity that we learn about the kindness of strangers. And we have a responsibility to pay it forward when we are able, to allow such unconditional support to open our worlds and make us more compassionate.
Mr El Ard is a hero, indeed deserving of praise and support, as are others who help out in their own way. Here's sending a warm thought for all of those who are doing what they can to help others, no matter how small it might seem. We will all have to live with the decisions we make during this fraught period in history.
Name withheld upon request, Dubai
Vaccine should be made available to developing nations too
With reference to Simon Rushton's report UK snaps up Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine in bid to immunise 2.5 million people (November 16): as the world expects a vaccine to counter the spread of the coronavirus, there is anxiety about its availability and how long the process is likely to take. Even though we don't know the time frame, that it is on the horizon gives comfort to a lot of people, especially the elderly and people with underlying health issues. However, developed countries with advanced medical facilities must support developing nations with large vulnerable communities, who may not be able to afford the vaccine in large quantities.
Ramachandran Nair, Muscat
Happy Independence Day, Suriname
This is with reference to my country, Suriname, mentioned in the article Amazon countries meet to bolster rainforest protection (September 7, 2019): living in Dubai for two years, everyday I have to tell people where Suriname is. It is the same for the other 25-30 Surinamese I know who live here. Unfortunately, we do not yet have an embassy or consulate in the UAE and nobody seems to really know about our beautiful land.
Some readers may wonder what or where Suriname is. It is the smallest country in South America, a very fertile land in the north between Guyana and French Guyana and above Brazil and 95 per cent of it is tropical rainforest.
The small population of about 600,000 people are descendants of Africans, Indians, Chinese, Javanese and of course the indigenous inhabitants, indigenous American Indians. And I just wanted to share with readers that on November 25, the Republic of Suriname will celebrate its 45th independence day.
Cathrin Carter Judell, Dubai
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Political flags or banners
-
Bikes, skateboards or scooters
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
