Colombian president-elect Gustavo Petro celebrates with his wife Veronica Alcocer at the Movistar Arena in Bogota after winning the run-off election. AFP
Mr Petro (C-L) celebrates with his vice presidential candidate Francia Marquez (C). The left-wing economist, 62, will succeed Ivan Duque. EPA
Mr Petro and Ms Marquez at the Movistar Arena event in Bogota. He said that 'today is a holiday for the people'. EPA
Mayor of Medellin Daniel Quintero hugs a supporter of Mr Petro after the election. AFP
Colombia faces a radical change of economic and political direction after electing a former guerrilla to the presidency on a platform of transforming the country's business-friendly model. Bloomberg
Fireworks in Cali, Colombia, after Mr Petro was elected as the country's first left-wing president, defeating businessman Rodolfo Hernandez. Reuters
The Colpatria tower in Bogota is illuminated with a picture of Mr Petro of the Historic Pact coalition. Reuters
Citizens celebrate the victory of President-elect Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Marquez in the Plaza de BolÃvar in Bogota, Colombia, 19 June 2022. Colombia elected its next president this Sunday in the second round of elections, demonstrating its solid democratic tradition with good participation figures and the landmark victory of leftist Gustavo Petro. The election day took place calmly and normally, in the expectation of results that were expected to be tight and that proved to be so as the count progressed and the distance between the two candidates was less than one million votes. EPA / Natalia Pedraza
Supporters of Mr Petro listen to his victory speech. Getty Images
Historic Pact coalition supporters celebrate at the Movistar Arena in Bogota. Reuters
Ay, caramba! Supporters with Simpsons-style cartoon cutouts of the winners. AFP
Colombia has elected its first leftist president after former rebel Gustavo Petro narrowly defeated a real estate millionaire in a run-off election.
Mr Petro, 62, won 50.48 per cent of the vote in his third attempt to win the presidency on Sunday, according to results released by election authorities. Political outsider Rodolfo Hernandez received 47.26 per cent.
As Colombians struggle with rising inequality, inflation and violence, voters punished long-governing centrist and right-leaning politicians in the first round of voting last month, and picked two outsiders for the run-off contest.
Mr Petro’s win in Latin America’s third most populous nation puts an end to Colombia’s long stigmatisation of the left for its perceived association with the country’s half-century of armed conflict.
The president-elect was once a rebel with the now-defunct M-19 movement and was granted amnesty after being jailed for his involvement with the group.
Mr Petro issued a call for unity during his victory speech on Sunday night and extended an olive branch to some of his harshest critics, saying all members of the opposition would be welcomed at the presidential palace “to discuss the problems of Colombia”.
“From this government that is beginning, there will never be political persecution or legal persecution; there will only be respect and dialogue,” he said.
He said he would listen to those who have raised arms as well as to “that silent majority of peasants, indigenous people, women, youth”.
The vote means Colombia will have a black woman as vice-president for the first time. Mr Petro’s running mate, Francia Marquez, 40, is a lawyer and environmental leader whose opposition to illegal mining resulted in threats and a grenade attack in 2019.
Colombia's president-elect Gustavo Petro and vice president-elect Francia Marquez celebrate in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday. Bloomberg
Mr Hernandez, whose campaign was based on an anti-corruption fight, conceded his defeat shortly after results were announced.
“I accept the result, as it should be, if we want our institutions to be firm,” he said in a video on social media. “I sincerely hope that this decision is beneficial for everyone.”
Latin American countries Chile, Peru and Honduras elected leftist presidents in 2021. In Brazil, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is leading the polls for this year’s presidential election.
But the results were an immediate reason to fret for some voters, whose closest reference to a leftist government is the troubled neighbouring Venezuela.
“We hope that Mr Gustavo Petro complies with what was said in his government plan, that he leads this country to greatness, which we need so much, and that [he] ends corruption,” said Karin Ardila Garcia, a Hernandez supporter in the north-central city of Bucaramanga.
“That he does not lead to communism, to socialism, to a war where they continue to kill us in Colombia … [that] he does not lead us to another Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina, Chile.”
About 21.6 million of the 39 million eligible voters cast a ballot on Sunday. Abstentionism has been above 40 per cent in every presidential election since 1990.
Mr Petro will be officially declared winner after a formal count that will take a few days.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)
Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
Travel distance: Limited
Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
Duration: Can linger for days
Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
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.
George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Scoreline
Switzerland 5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
