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Shadi's take on Trump administration barring international students from Harvard

Shadi's take on Trump administration barring international students from Harvard

The National24-05-2025

Global events: Much of the UK's economic woes were blamed on 'increased global uncertainty', which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump's tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise '£6.5bn per year' for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi​​​​​​​
Rating: 4/5 stars
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
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 Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid Investment raised: $4 million
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
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country's systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now %3Cp%3E1.%20Labour%20productivity%20is%20lower%20than%20the%20average%20of%20the%20developed%20economies%2C%20particularly%20in%20the%20non-tradable%20industries.%3Cbr%3E2.%20The%20low%20level%20of%20basic%20skills%20among%20workers%20and%20the%20high%20level%20of%20inequality%20between%20those%20with%20various%20skills.%3Cbr%3E3.%20Low%20employment%20rates%2C%20particularly%20among%20Arab%20women%20and%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jewish%20men.%3Cbr%3E4.%20A%20lack%20of%20basic%20knowledge%20required%20for%20integration%20into%20the%20labour%20force%2C%20due%20to%20the%20lack%20of%20core%20curriculum%20studies%20in%20schools%20for%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jews.%3Cbr%3E5.%20A%20need%20to%20upgrade%20and%20expand%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20particularly%20mass%20transit%20infrastructure.%3Cbr%3E6.%20The%20poverty%20rate%20at%20more%20than%20double%20the%20OECD%20average.%3Cbr%3E7.%20Population%20growth%20of%20about%202%20per%20cent%20per%20year%2C%20compared%20to%200.6%20per%20cent%20OECD%20average%20posing%20challenge%20for%20fiscal%20policy%20and%20underpinning%20pressure%20on%20education%2C%20health%20care%2C%20welfare%20housing%20and%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20which%20will%20increase%20in%20the%20coming%20years.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5 Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of 'ancillary orders'.
More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30. Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30 Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank's charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive. %3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAyan%20Mukerji%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Alia%20Bhatt%20and%20Amitabh%20Bachchan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

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Bentley ranks high among automotive nobility‭. ‬Once a racing marque with notable victories‭, ‬it later merged with Rolls-Royce before being reborn‭. ‬Since its acquisition by the VW Group‭, ‬it has thrived‭, ‬thanks to the Continental GT‭, ‬which blends charismatic styling‭, ‬strong performance‭, ‬and enduring craftsmanship‭. ‬Now in its fourth generation‭, ‬we were invited to experience the art of‭ ‬'fine driving'‭ ‬in the exclusive Bentley Continental GT Speed Hybrid First Edition‭ ‬—‭ ‬and here's what went down‭.‬ DESIGN‭ & ‬AESTHETICS Bentley calls this an all-new generation‭, ‬but it feels more like a visual facelift‭ ‬—‭ ‬and that's alright‭. ‬Why fix what isn't broken‭? ‬Since its 2003‭ ‬debut as a hunky-yet-elegant grand tourer‭, ‬it has grown slimmer and more athletic with each generation‭.‬‭ ‬Still‭, ‬at 4,895mm in length and 1,966mm in width‭, ‬it commands serious road presence‭. ‬Its face features single headlamps inspired by the limited-run Bacalar‭ ‬—‭ ‬the first of their kind since the 1950s‭ ‬—‭ ‬slit by an LED strip‭. ‬The rest is all grille and air intakes‭, ‬purposeful but not aggressive‭. ‬The body‭, ‬sculpted from superformed aluminium‭, ‬is pinched with precise creases to create a muscular-but-restrained form‭, ‬while the massive 22-inch directional turbine wheels make it look like a concept car come to life‭, ‬and over them is a graceful fastback roofline‭. ‬The only flaw is the overly stretched oval tail lamps on an otherwise perfectly executed rear design‭. ‬Still‭, ‬without a shadow of doubt‭, ‬this is one of‭ ‬the most beautiful‭, ‬artfully designed coupés‭ ‬—‭ ‬and perhaps the finest extrusion of human imagination‭.‬ Adding to the luxury experience are colourful animated puddle lamps that project the Bentley emblem onto the ground and effortless soft-closing doors‭. ‬Inside‭, ‬the cabin feels as rich as it looks‭ ‬—‭ ‬blending masculine architecture that uses structured elements with feminine touches through the finest materials‭, ‬some found in‭ ‬luxury handbags‭. ‬Eye-grabbing highlights include 3D diamond-stitched leather upholstery‭, ‬real stainless steel circular air vents with organ pulls‭, ‬and a Bentley‭ ‬'B'‭ ‬on the brake pedal‭ ‬—‭ ‬showcasing Bentley's staggering attention to detail‭.‬ Modern tech includes a customisable instrument display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen backed by physical buttons for essentials like radio‭, ‬phone‭, ‬and navigation‭. ‬The party piece‭, ‬though‭, ‬is the rotating display‭, ‬which elegantly flips between the touchscreen‭,‬‭ ‬three analogue gauges‭, ‬and unbroken dashboard veneer‭.‬ As for gripes‭, ‬the plastic centre console piece would feel more in place finished in wood or glass‭; ‬and the steering column could use just an inch more extension for an ideal driving position‭. ‬And there's no graceful way to enter the rear cabin‭, ‬but your pride is salvaged in knowing you're stepping into a Bentley‭.‬ POWERTRAIN‭ & ‬PERFORMANCE The smooth twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12‭ ‬has now been relegated to history‭. ‬This new hybrid version retains the twin-turbo 4.0-litre‭ ‬V8‭ ‬and adds a 190‭ ‬PS electric motor‭, ‬delivering nearly 800‭ ‬hp and 1,000‭ ‬Nm of torque‭ ‬—‭ ‬enough to pull an 18-wheeler‭.‬ It starts silently in electric vehicle‭ (‬EV‭) ‬mode‭, ‬with a claimed 81km range‭, ‬and glides like a limousine unless provoked‭. ‬It also claims to reach 859km before the tank empties out‭, ‬which may be closer to 650km in the real world‭. ‬One can top up the 25.9‭ ‬kWh battery in 2h45m with an 11‭ ‬kW charger‭, ‬or 8h30m via a household socket‭. ‬In Sport mode‭, ‬the V8‭ ‬burble awakens‭, ‬and with launch‭ ‬control activated‭, ‬it hurls itself from a standstill to 100kmph in just 3.1‭ ‬seconds‭ ‬with no drama‭, ‬tyre smoke‭, ‬or rear-end shimmy‭, ‬thanks to all-wheel drive traction‭. ‬And you'll love the satisfying crackles between shifts‭.‬ For something that weighs 2,459kg‭, ‬this car is unbelievably fast‭, ‬which is a thought sure to upend the scientific mind‭.‬ The air suspension with twin-valve dampers offers a composed ride‭ ‬—‭ ‬more refined than a 911‭, ‬more involving than a Rolls-Royce Spectre‭. ‬Electronic all-wheel steering aids manoeuvrability with an‭ ‬11.3-metre turning radius‭, ‬while the electronic limited-slip differential and massive tyres ensure confidence-inspiring cornering‭. ‬And it comes with some of the largest production brakes‭, ‬too‭.‬ Without a shadow of doubt‭, ‬this is one of‭ ‬the most beautiful‭, ‬artfully designed coupés‭ ‬—‭ ‬and perhaps the finest extrusion of human imagination‭" FEATURES‭ & ‬FUNCTIONALITY The 260-litre boot is sizeable for a coupe and fits the mandatory golf bag‭, ‬but the spare tyre and charging cables reduce it to‭ ‬grocery-bag capacity‭. ‬The standard 650W 10-speaker audio is home-theatre loud‭, ‬but our test car's 2,200W 18-speaker Naim system delivers orchestral-quality sound‭, ‬though Bluetooth playback was occasionally distorted‭.‬ The car's wireless Android Auto worked seamlessly for navigation and apps‭. ‬You can also say‭ ‬'Hey Bentley'‭ ‬to access various functions‭, ‬though the system is sluggish and doesn't support UAE points of interest‭. ‬Thankfully‭, ‬handwritten input‭, ‬though slow‭, ‬worked‭. ‬Also‭, ‬the wireless phone charger is a tad‭ ‬inaccessible‭, ‬being in the centre cubby‭. ‬Keeping you cool is an excellent air conditioning system aided by seat ventilation and‭ ‬enhanced air ionisation‭.‬ Safety features include advanced emergency braking‭, ‬swerve and turn assist‭, ‬adaptive cruise control‭, ‬lane guidance‭, ‬and a 3D surround-view camera‭ ‬—‭ ‬though lane-keeping assist occasionally wandered‭.‬ VERDICT The 2025‭ ‬Bentley Continental GT Speed is timeless beauty manifested as a two-door coupe‭. ‬It features a cossetting cabin crafted‭ ‬from exotic materials‭ ‬—‭ ‬a designer's playground that speaks to the moneyed elite‭. ‬The electric drive and air suspension deliver a soft and silent refinement‭, ‬while‭ ‬the ability to instantly summon all 800‭ ‬horses through brilliant engineering turns this grand tourer into a mad‭, ‬but still refined‭, ‬sports car‭. ‬Minor faults can be swept under the rug‭, ‬unless you're opting for long-haul staycations with friends and luggage‭.‬ GOOD‭: ‬ Gorgeous bodywork‭; ‬exquisite materials‭; ‬superfluous power and comfort‭; ‬81km pure electric range BAD‭:‬ ‭ ‬Steering column could use more adjustment‭; ‬limited trunk space‭; ‬cramped rear seats‭; ‬pricey SPECIFICATIONS Body type‭ ‬ —‭ ‬2+2-seater‭; ‬2-door premium high-performance luxury coupe Engine ‭ ‬—‭ ‬Front-engine‭; ‬twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8‭ + ‬e-motor w‭/ ‬25.9‭ ‬kWh battery‭; ‬all-wheel drive Transmission ‭ ‬—‭ ‬8-speed DCT‭ (‬automated manual‭)‬ Peak output ‭ ‬—‭ ‬782‭ ‬PS‭ (‬system total‭); ‬600‭ ‬PS‭ ‬@‭ ‬6,000‭ ‬rpm‭ (‬ICE‭) + ‬190‭ ‬PS‭ (‬e-motor‭) - ‬1,000‭ ‬Nm‭ (‬system total‭); ‬800‭ ‬Nm‭ ‬@‭ ‬2,000‭ - ‬4,500‭ ‬rpm‭ + ‬450‭ ‬Nm‭ (‬e-motor‭)‬ 0‭ ‬to 100kmph ‭ ‬—‭ ‬3.2‭ ‬seconds‭ (‬claimed‭)‬ Top speed ‭ ‬—‭ ‬335kmph‭ (‬drag limited‭; ‬claimed‭)‬ Price ‭ ‬—‭ ‬Starting at Dh1,750,000‭ ‬approx‭.‬ EDITOR'S RATING‭ - ‬8.5/10‭ ‬stars

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