Live updates: Follow the latest on Donald Trump’s inauguration
In a surreal moment, the leaders of what some might describe as the six families of Big Tech put aside their business rivalries and political differences to join President Donald Trump for a church service right before his inauguration.
Tesla co-founder Elon Musk, Meta head Mark Zuckerberg, Apple chief executive Tim Cook, TikTok chief Shou Zi Chew, Google's chief Sundar Pichai and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos all joined Mr Trump at St John’s Episcopal Church near the White House.
It was an interesting venue for all the technology entrepreneurs to be seen. Silicon Valley, the place that gave birth to the powerhouse technology companies, is known for being secular, so the religious backdrop was a juxtaposition for the ages and yet a validating moment for the entire industry. Many of the technology titans also appeared in the US Capitol building during Mr Trump's inauguration.
The appearance of TikTok's chief executive in Washington comes after more than a year of criticism from both Democrats and Republicans over the company's alleged connections to the Chinese Communist Party, which some say make it a threat to national security. For Mr Zuckerberg, his appearance at the Trump inauguration comes weeks after Meta controversially moved away from fact-checkers and months after the Facebook founder publicly criticised former US President Joe Biden.
For Tesla and X chief executive Mr Musk, the moment comes after an almost two-year journey during which the entrepreneur has increasingly espoused conservative positions.
As for Apple chief executive Mr Cook, during Mr Trump's first term in office, he reached out to employees to reassure them about the company's values. He later joined a White House panel during Mr Trump's first term on US job creation. This time around, several media reports indicated that Mr Cook personally donated to Mr Trump's inauguration funds.
Other companies, like Microsoft, Meta and OpenAI, also made donations. Meanwhile, for Amazon founder Mr Bezos, his newspaper The Washington Post is facing a backlash after it refused to endorse Kamala Harris, in a move critics said was to try to curry favour with Mr Trump.
For Silicon Valley, however, the presence of so many technology chief executives is sure to be viewed as a culmination of decades of work that came to fruition with unprecedented influence within a superpower, for better or worse.
“Technology companies must take a crash course in 'spoken Maga' [Make America Great Again],” said Sam Blatteis, chief executive of The Mena Catalysts, a market entry firm for Web3 multinationals, who spoke with The National before the inauguration about the influence of technology companies in Washington. “It is a special language – different than how they communicated with the Biden White House.”
“The rise of Trump means the power gap is closing in Washington, and the ideological gap is widening with many far-flung parts of the tech epicentres of power,” he said, referring to the many efforts from technology leaders to try to curry favour in Washington.
Yet as President Trump continues to try to fill government positions, Mr Blatteis said those same technology leaders may have to continue adjusting their approach. “As Trump appoints an armada of new policymakers to run key tech-related agencies, who is running them, and how much real influence they have, is hard to pin down. It’s about quietly having the right conversations to ensure the right context is being understood by the key people reporting on the issue.”
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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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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
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CREW
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- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
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'Midnights'
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SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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