With reference to Chitrabhanu Kadalayil's op-ed Is the writing already on the wall for India's opposition? (December 18): There are good reasons for the expected return to power for the BJP. First, its positioned as a Hindu party in a country where people have not forgotten the violence of the 1947 partitioning of the country. Many Hindus, in various institutions and organisations, feel aligned with the BJP’s ideology. The secular philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru, which guided India for first 70 years is gradually receding into history.
Second, the BJP has been transferring cash in the bank accounts of the lower-income citizens on a regular basis as a part of various welfare schemes, to the delight of voters.
Third, every improvement in infrastructure is treated as a significant achievement, with speeches and a media blitz.
Fourth, the BJP has selected Mr Modi as the face of the party. So, we have one party, one leader. His photo is everywhere, at all functions and junctions. The party is perpetually in election mode and has built an organisational machinery to fight elections. Every fortnight, there is an event to highlight the party’s achievement. It could be a moon-landing or a G-20 meet or a foreign state visit or even a cricket carnival to mesmerise the public. The BJP is on a ceaseless promotional drive.
Finally, the opposition in India, including the Congress, has not galvanised to meet the challenge. They lack a common ideology and working programme and they need a savvy leader. Under these circumstances, the BJP will likely romp to victory again in 2024.
RK Aneja, Dubai
A little money put aside pays off
With reference to Felicity Glover's article My Dubai Salary: ‘I earn Dh300,000 a year in energy management' (December 19): That's a sensible approach to savings. He's a good example of knowing at a young age that passive income will lead to the life one wants to enjoy in retirement.
Mildred Ortega Galias, Bicol, Phillipines
The value of good people
With reference to The National's report More UAE medical volunteers head to field hospital in Gaza (December 17): The emotional turmoil volunteers face in such situations is presumably immense. Even though professionals have the training, perhaps at some level they still struggle with striking a balance between empathising with the patients and their families, stepping into their emotional world while also maintaining a professional distance.
Coping mechanisms vary from person to person and from day-to-day. Medical professionals could find solace in knowing that their skills contribute to easing the suffering of others. This then becomes a powerful coping mechanism. But compassion fatigue can take a toll on even the most resilient healthcare professionals.
In a world often measured through transactions, it's easy to forget that the true essence of a meaningful life lies in the relationships we build and the positive effect we have on others.
Strength for healthcare and wellness professionals, as for most people in other jobs, lies in the relationships they build. The value of surrounding oneself with loved ones and creating a supportive community cannot be overstated. Having people around who understand you and the meaning behind the work becomes crucial for the emotional well-being of those in challenging professions .
It urges a shift away from transactional thinking, particularly in the context of the unique challenges faced by healthcare and wellness professionals dealing with compassion fatigue.
Nora J Al Suwaidi, Abu Dhabi
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
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Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
How%20champions%20are%20made
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Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
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