With reference to Adla Massoud's report Trump threatens Harvard after it defied government demands for overhaul (April 15): This was a thoughtful article on the latest developments at Harvard University that has shocked the global academic community. Harvard's defiance of government pressure has raised serious concerns, particularly among international students who have long considered the US to be a top destination for higher education.
The global image and reputation of US universities must not be tarnished through political interference. It is crucial that student safety is prioritised throughout their academic tenure. Educational institutions deserve respect and protection, not threats or political attacks. The integrity of academia should never be compromised for political gain.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
I agree with the views of Alan Garber, the Harvard president when he says no government, regardless of which party is in power, should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.
Susan K, Orlando, Florida
Perhaps universities then should not expect the federal money. The federal government sets conditions for funding. Not allowing rampant, radical anti-Semitic propaganda is one of them and seems like a logical condition to my mind.
Robert Jeffries, San Antonio, Texas
The distraction of tariffs
With regard to Alvin Cabral's report Tariff chaos under Trump spells diverging fortunes for gold and oil (April 14): What is this obsession the US administration has with a trade balance? It's beginning to seem to me that a lot of this is a distraction from bigger things happening in the background.
David Otieno, Agadir, Morocco
In these tariff wars, we must not forget the tears and anguish of the orphans and widows in the Ukraine and Gaza wars, otherwise history will not forgive us.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
A year of car troubles
In reference to Nick Webster's article Car industry feels aftermath of historic UAE floods one year on (April 15): My car is still in the garage for the recovery process. It's been a year of waiting and waiting. I have full coverage it's been a year of the car being parked in the garage for this never-ending fixing.
Fernanada Troy, Dubai
The relentless assault on Gaza
Regarding Nagham Mohanna's piece Civil defence blames Gaza strike death toll on Israel blockading rescue gear (April 10): In a sense, there is no more Gaza. Just grief, rubble and little shoes buried in dust.
Sophia Martinez, San Francisco, US
While you're here
Chitrabhanu Kadalayil:Â Singapore election is more than just a family feud over LKY's legacy
Sholto Byrnes:Â Robert Mugabe and Lee Kuan Yew: two leaders with very different legacies
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan:Â UAE and Singapore can be partners for a world in transition
Nick March: Singapore and UAE are on the move – in airport development
While you're here
Nasser bin Nasser:Â Is US-China conflict in West Asia inevitable?
Sholto Byrnes: Time for an uninhibited China to lead Asia
Damien McElroy:Â BRI has changed the rules of the game
More on animal trafficking
More from this story
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres Â
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floorÂ
if you go
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
More on animal trafficking
More on Quran memorisation:
Specs
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
National Editorial:Â Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi:Â Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore:Â Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt:Â Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy:Â AÂ CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish:Â Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman:Â Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
Rashmee Roshan Lall: Sound of silence in South Asia
Fanar Haddad: The Iranian response will be gradual
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
THE%20SPECS
School uniforms report
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial:Â Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi:Â Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore:Â Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt:Â Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: AÂ CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Zayed Sustainability Prize
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Saudi National Day
MORE FROM ED HUSAIN:Â The UAE-Israel accord is a win for every Muslim
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
West Indies v England ODI series:
West Indies squad: Jason Holder (c), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas.
Fixtures:
1st ODI - February 20, Bridgetown
2nd ODI - February 22, Bridgetown
3rd ODI - February 25, St George's
4th ODI - February 27, St George's
5th ODI - March 2, Gros Islet
Our commentary on Brexit
- Alistair Burt:Â Despite Brexit, Britain can remain a world power
- Sam Williams:Â Departure is influenced by its sense of place
While you're here
More from Neighbourhood Watch
More coverage from the Future Forum
• Remittance charges will be tackled by blockchain
• UAE's monumental and risky Mars Mission to inspire future generations, says minister
• Could the UAE drive India's economy?
• News has a bright future and the UAE is at the heart of it
• Architecture is over - here's cybertecture
• The National announces Future of News journalism competition
• Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany:Â Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
Shelina Janmohamed:Â Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?
Justin Thomas:Â Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'
The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
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THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
War on waste
Tomorrow 2021
Our commentary on Brexit
- Alistair Burt:Â Despite Brexit, Britain can remain a world power
- Con Coughlin:Â Choice of the British people will be vindicated
Plastic tipping point
More from this package
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial:Â Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi:Â Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Matthew Levitt:Â Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: AÂ CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
Zayed Sustainability Prize
• Remittance charges will be tackled by blockchain
• UAE's monumental and risky Mars Mission to inspire future generations, says minister
• Could the UAE drive India's economy?
• News has a bright future and the UAE is at the heart of it
• Architecture is over - here's cybertecture
• The National announces Future of News journalism competition
• Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.Â
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- 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
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)Â
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Oppenheimer
While you're here
Gavin Esler:Â Coronavirus offers stinging rebuke to protectionists
Kareem Shaheen:Â Pandemics can save us from waging wars
Sholto Byrnes: Why the climate change clash will get nastier
More from Firas Maksad
More from this package
Transgender report
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
While you're here
National Editorial:Â World trade has started to look inwards
Callum Patton: ‘Arrival of Asian century’ has eclipsed US
Robin Mills:Â Importance of China's energy markets clearer
On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality
The National Editorial:Â Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
Justin Thomas:Â Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'
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The national orchestra
World Mental Health Day
Related stories
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
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While you're here
Aya Iskandarani: Why Hezbollah’s man in Iraq is now worth $10 million to the US
Khaled Yacoub Oweis: Hezbollah bids to control Lebanon’s financial system
National Editorial:Â Hezbollah's murky dealings in Iraq have been unveiled
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial:Â Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi:Â Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore:Â Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt:Â Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: AÂ CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Rashmee Roshan Lall: Sound of silence in South Asia
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part three:Â the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two:Â how climate change drove the race for an alternativeÂ
Read part one:Â how cars came to the UAE
While you're here
Janine di Giovanni: Biden's America will be a more hopeful America
Rashmee Roshan Lall: Who are the women driving Joe Biden's success?
Youth found to be more prejudiced than older people about women leaders
Rashmee Roshan Lall: Kamala Harris and the complexity of racial identity
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Investing in the future
School uniforms report
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
While you're here
Hussein Ibish:Â Could it be game over for Donald Trump?
Joyce Karam: Trump's campaign thrown off balance
Trump tests positive: everything we know so far
Transgender report
While you're here
The National editorial:Â Turkey's soft power weighs heavy on Europe's Muslims
Con Coughlin: How extremists use Zoom and other tools to exploit pandemic
Nicky Harley: Peace TV preacher Zakir Naik prompts UK hate laws review
While you're here
Hussein Ibish: There are reasons for Democrats and Republicans to be happy
Rashmee Roshan Lall:Â Who are the women driving Joe Biden's success?
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Tomorrow 2021
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial:Â Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Jack Moore:Â Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt:Â Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: AÂ CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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While you're here
Sulaiman Hakemy:Â Why it's important to lose elections
Rashmee Roshan Lall:Â Â US race relations in three words
Michael Goldfarb: First debate marks the end of an era
More from this package
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
National Editorial:Â Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi:Â Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore:Â Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt:Â Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy:Â AÂ CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish:Â Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman:Â Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
You might also like
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial:Â Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi:Â Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore:Â Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt:Â Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasionÂ
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for workÂ
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’tsÂ
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agalÂ
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.Â
Read part four:Â an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three:Â the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one:Â how cars came to the UAE
Â
War on waste
While you're here
Joyce Karam:Â Chaotic first debate unlikely to swing undecideds
Hussein Ibish:Â Donald Trump's 3-step plan to cling to power
Sulaiman Hakemy: Make America lose again
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
While you're here
Johann Chacko:Â Why Maldives has become a theatre for US-China rivalry
C Uday Bhaskar: What is India's Indo-Pacific strategy?
C Uday Bhaskar:Â The 'Asian Century' depends on China and India working together
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
More on animal trafficking
The%20specs%20
Whiile you're here
Damien McElroy:Â Anti-science attitudes in America are proving lethal
Editorial:Â What makes the UAE such a good place to test vaccines?
Editorial:Â The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science
Tomorrow 2021
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
On Women's Day
Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?
Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality
The National Editorial:Â Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
Justin Thomas:Â Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'
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Inside Palestine-Israel
Saeb Erakat:Â Palestine can overcome coronavirus
Michael Young: The issue with Israel's 'iron wall'
Michael Young:Â What Israel's divisions mean for Arabs
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
More on Quran memorisation:
Read more about the coronavirus
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exteriorÂ
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
While you're here
Layla Mashkoor:Â How policing has changed since the US protests began
Gavin Esler:Â The uniquely threads that tie Rodney King to George Floyd
Colin Randall:Â Police suicides on the rise in France after months of protests
Transgender report
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.Â
Read part four:Â an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three:Â the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two:Â how climate change drove the race for an alternativeÂ
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
