ABU DHABI // Emirati students studying in politically unstable countries will be exempted from attending class in certain cases, the minister of higher education told the FNC yesterday.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak said while it was crucial that all students complete their course work and have their transcripts attested by the UAE, given certain circumstances, some students would not be subject to the rules.
But Musabah Al Kitbi (Sharjah) asked that the ministry remove the rule entirely, as many Emiratis have been forced to remain in the UAE and their studies have not been completed due to lack of attendance.
He cited Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain and Lebanon as some countries where Emiratis have been unable to continue their studies. According to ministry statistics, 312 students were studying in these countries last year.
"This is not counting the ones studying on their own expense," Mr Al Kitbi said. "Attending could put their life in danger, so [the ministry] needs to keep this in mind."
Sheikh Nahyan reiterated that those students would be exempt, but stressed the importance of attendance.
He said universities require minimum attendance for a student to gain a degree. He said the ministry only asks for the third of required attendance in order to give students credit. This is an effort to ensure students are missing class because of safety reasons, and not because they have decided to quit.
"So if it is three years, then the ministry asks for the students to be at university for a year at least. And this does not have to be continuous," he said. "This is not a big burden on students, just shows us how serious they are about education."
Mr Al Kitbi replied: "Tens of students have certificates and are at home, I really hope that this requirement will be looked over again for these youth."
He also asked the minister what was being done to keep students safe from communicable diseases abroad, but the FNC speaker, Mohammed Al Murr, said the question was out of place.
On another matter, regarding recent calls to conduct university courses in Arabic, Sheikh Nahyan stressed that studying foreign languages was essential to be competitive worldwide and to help students enter the work force.
He disagreed that learning a foreign language conflicts with national identity.
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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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.
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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RESULT
West Brom 2 Liverpool 2
West Brom: Livermore (79'), Rondón (88' )
Liverpool: Ings (4'), Salah (72')
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.
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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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The years Ramadan fell in May