Republican leaders on Tuesday said Gaza protests at US university campuses were “out of control”, after students at Columbia University in New York took over a building in a move condemned by the White House.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Columbia is unable to operate as students prepare for final exams, calling the situation “unfair” and “unsafe”.
He also announced a "House-wide effort to crack down on anti-Semitism" on campuses.
Leaders also asked President Joe Biden's administration whether foreign students engaged in "radical activity" on US campuses would have their visas revoked.
The comments come as protests against the war in Gaza continue to rage across US university campuses.
Chairman of the House judiciary committee Jim Jordan said his panel had sent formal letters to the Biden administration asking whether it would remove foreign citizens taking part in the anti-war campus protests.
"We as Republicans in the Congress want to know … first, how many students on a visa have engaged in the radical activity we've seen now, day after day, on college campuses?" Mr Jordan asked.
"Question two, if you know that number, have you asked the State Department to revoke their visas?
"And then third, and maybe most importantly to Secretary [of Homeland Security Alejandro] Mayorkas – if you've done that, if you know that answer, have you started removal proceedings?"
Dozens of protesters took over Hamilton Hall on the Columbia campus early on Tuesday, barricading the entrances with tables and chairs, and unfurling a Palestinian flag out of a window in the latest escalation of demonstrations.
Supporting protesters locked arms in front of the academic building overnight, as occupiers moved furniture and metal barricades to block entry ways and hung banners that read “Free Palestine” and "intifada".
Late on Tuesday, New York City police officers arrived at the campus and began the process of retaking control of Hamilton Hall. Footage showed dozens of police officers entering the building via a ladder that was extended from the roof of a police vehicle.
The CU Apartheid Divest coalition posted on X that an “autonomous group” had occupied the hall and renamed it Hind's Hall, in honour of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed along with her family by Israeli fire as they travelled in a car.
The coalition also announced that occupiers would "remain in Hamilton until the university divests from death," reiterating its protest demand for the school to disclose and divest from finances linked to Israel's actions.
“The President [Joe Biden] believes that forcibly taking over a building on campus is absolutely the wrong approach,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
Deputy press secretary Andrew Bates added that the President "respects the right to free expression but protests must be peaceful and lawful".
"Hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America," he added, referring to the Biden administration's objection to the use of the word "intifada" as dangerous. The word means "uprising" and "shaking off" in Arabic.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and city police claimed that there were "outside actors" unaffiliated with the school" participating in the Hamilton Hall occupation.
They were people known to have been involved in protest activity over the years and have helped students with new tactics, officials said.
The move to occupy a building came after Columbia president Nemat Shafik said negotiations between faculty and demonstrators had failed, and the school started to suspend remaining participants.
"We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions," Columbia's spokesman Ben Chang said in a statement, adding that property had been vandalised.
The students occupying Hamilton Hall face expulsion.
"This is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause," Mr Chang said.
Hamilton Hall is an eight-story building that was built in 1907 and is named after American founding father Alexander Hamilton, who attended King's College, what was once Columbia's original name.
The building has also been occupied in past student protests in 1968 and 1996.
“We call for the police to come in and take care of it,” Mr Johnson said of the situation at Columbia. “If they're unable, then we need the National Guard. We have to have control of campuses.”
Tom Emmer, the Majority Whip, added that “since President Joe Biden, far-left congressional Democrats and Ivy League administrators have chosen to side with Hamas over protecting Jewish students”, Republicans needed to pass legislation to combat anti-Semitism on campuses.
Republicans on the House judiciary committee submitted a letter to the Biden administration asking how many "students on a visa" have engaged in campus protests, and whether the State Department has been asked to "revoke visas" or "start removal proceedings".
Pro-Palestine protests at US universities continue – in pictures
The protests and the university response have garnered attention globally.
"I think it is essential in all circumstances to guarantee the freedom of expression and the freedom of peaceful demonstrations," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday.
"And at the same time, it is obvious that hate speech is unacceptable. Based on my experience in government, I believe it is up to the university authorities to have the wisdom to properly manage situations like the ones we have witnessed."
UN human rights chief Volker Turk said he was troubled by the use of policing against the protests.
“Freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly are fundamental to society – particularly when there is sharp disagreement on major issues, as there are in relation to the conflict in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel,” Mr Turk said.
“I am concerned that some of law enforcement actions across a series of universities appear disproportionate in their impacts."
At Yale University in Connecticut, campus police blocked access to an encampment while workers took down tents on Tuesday morning. No arrests were made, but protesters have vowed to return, The Yale Daily News reported.
Not all universities have called on police to clear encampments and some leaders have chosen to resolve things through dialogue.
Northwestern University in Illinois announced it has reached a deal with pro-Palestinian protesters, ending an encampment of students and faculty, but allowing peaceful demonstrations to continue through June 1, ABC reported.
Brown University's campus newspaper reported on Tuesday that the school had reached a deal with demonstrators, in which it would vote on divesting from companies connected with Israel in an October meeting in exchange for students voluntarily ending their encampments.
Arrests continued at protests at the University of Texas at Austin, where 79 people were taken into custody on Monday.
Austin was also the site of a police arrest of journalist Carlos Sanchez, who was photographing a protest gathering for a local Fox affiliate when he was caught in a scuffle between police and students.
Criminal trespass charges against the journalist were dropped, the Society of Professional Journalists reported.
Pro-Palestinian student camps spread across the US after Columbia University arrests - video
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
