The Galaxy Leader cargo ship, which was seized by the Houthis near Al Salif port in the Red Sea this month. EPA
The Galaxy Leader cargo ship, which was seized by the Houthis near Al Salif port in the Red Sea this month. EPA
The Galaxy Leader cargo ship, which was seized by the Houthis near Al Salif port in the Red Sea this month. EPA
The Galaxy Leader cargo ship, which was seized by the Houthis near Al Salif port in the Red Sea this month. EPA

Iran warns US against proposed Red Sea force to protect ships


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Iran's Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned a proposed US-backed multinational task force to protect shipping in the Red Sea would face "extraordinary problems", official Iranian media reported on Thursday.

Mr Ashtiani's comments came after the US said last week it was in talks with other countries to set up a task force after a spate of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on ships in the Red Sea.

"If they make such an irrational move, they will be faced with extraordinary problems," Mr Ashtiani told the official Iranian Student News Agency.

"Nobody can make a move in a region where we have predominance," he said, referring to the Red Sea.

Mr Ashtiani did not specify what measures Iran was prepared to take in response to the setting up of a US-backed Red Sea task force.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington has been in talks with other countries over forming a "maritime task force ... to ensure safe passage of ships in the Red Sea", but did not give further details.

The Houthis, aligned with Iran, have waded into the Israel-Gaza conflict by attacking vessels in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel more than 1,600km from their seat of power in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

American and French navies have strengthened their presence in the Red Sea to protect vessels from possible seizure or attack by the rebel group.

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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. 

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Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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

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Infobox

Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August

Results

UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets

Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets

Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets

Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs

Monday fixtures

UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain

Updated: December 14, 2023, 11:28 AM