Jewish split over Gaza deepens in the UK
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Khaleej Times
16 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
'I spoke with him 40 years ago': Trader recalls meeting Dubai Ruler in Deira
'I spoke with him 40 years ago,' said Abdullah Asad, a spices and dry fruits trader at Dubai's old souk. 'He asked me about the products in my shop. I still remember explaining a few herbal items to him. Since then, I see him once a year, but I never got a chance to speak to him again.' On Tuesday, Abdullah once again saw Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, walk through the narrow lanes of Old Souk Deira. The moment brought back old memories. 'I still cherish that conversation, and it will stay with me for life,' said Abdullah. 'When the Ruler entered the souk, I just said Masha Allah. Everyone around me said the same,' he added. 'He walked through the old market as if he was remembering the past. He also looked around to make sure everything in the souk was working well, just like a leader who truly cares about his people and his city.' The Deira Souk is more than a market, it's a place full of history, rich aromas of spices, and voices from all over the world. For many traders and shoppers, the visit came as a complete surprise. As Sheikh Mohammed passed through, crowds began to gather, hoping to get a glimpse of their beloved leader. 'I froze when I saw him' Some people couldn't believe the Ruler was actually in the market. 'My salesman came running and told me the Ruler is here. I didn't believe him, I have been pranked before,' said Mukhtar Abdullah, a dry fruits and nuts trader. 'But when Sheikh Mohammed came near my shop, I froze. I had to pinch myself to believe it was real. My grandfather and father used to tell me stories of his visits in the old days. Now, I saw him with my own eyes.' Some missed the moment But not everyone was lucky enough to see him. Abdul Badi, a businessman at the souk, missed the glimpse of the Ruler by just a few minutes. 'I saw a few luxury cars arrive around 6pm, but I was busy with some work. Its normal to spot luxury cars in the city. When I returned 20 minutes later, I saw a crowd gathered near my shop. I asked what happened, and someone told me, Sheikh Mohammed was here. My heart sank,' said Abdul Badi. 'This isn't the first time I missed him. It feels like I am never in the right place when he visits.' Cart puller's moment of joy Mohammed Khaliq, a cart puller at the souk, mentioned how he quickly rushed to see the Ruler. 'I was passing by with my cart. I parked it and ran to see him. When Sheikh Mohammed entered the mattress souk, I stood quietly in the crowd,' said Khaliq. 'You can not explain it, but you feel something special when he's near. He has leadership, but also peace and calm. His eyes are kind. His presence is strong, but gentle. His aura is majestic.' Khaliq also noticed how Sheikh Mohammed didn't need bodyguards to push people away. 'There were no loud announcements or barriers. People stepped back on their own, out of love and respect,' he said. 'Greatness begins with humility' Back in his shop, Abdullah Asad reflected on what the visit meant. 'I'm 72 now. I have seen this market change, and I have seen this city grow into something amazing. But when you see Sheikh Mohammed walking these same streets, it reminds you that true greatness comes from being humble."
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
UAE welcomes Trump's AI Action Plan, ambassador Al Otaiba says
The UAE's ambassador to the US commended the AI Action Plan unveiled by the Trump White House on Wednesday. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba applauded the much-anticipated artificial intelligence plan just hours after several executive orders related to the three-pillared AI strategy were signed by President Donald Trump. 'The UAE welcomes President Trump's AI Action Plan and is ready to fast track our strategic AI partnership with the US, first announced during [President Trump's] May visit to Abu Dhabi,' Mr Al Otaiba posted on social media. 'As a trusted partner, we are working closely with leading US companies to adopt and scale American technology in the UAE and beyond,' he added, referring to the 5GW UAE-US AI Campus announced in May. The UAE ambassador also reflected on the country's commitment to a $1.4 trillion investment framework in the US related to artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors, energy and manufacturing. 'We are collaboratively setting a new 'Gold Standard' for securing AI models, chips, data and access – delivering lasting benefits for both our nations and the world,' he wrote. A week ago in Pennsylvania at an energy conference, White House cryptocurrency and AI adviser David Sacks also boasted about the UAE's commitment to work with the US. 'I know that our Gulf state partners will honour our security agreement,' Mr Sacks said, talking about US confidence that American-made technology would be protected in the UAE and wouldn't be diverted to potentially adversarial countries. In recent years, the UAE − the Arab world's second-biggest economy − has pursued becoming an AI front-runner, as it seeks to diversify its economy from oil. The country's efforts have resulted in the establishment of start-ups, partnerships and investments from industry leaders like Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI, to name a few. Through the creation of language models such as Falcon Arabic, the UAE has also sought to ensure aspects of Arabic culture are not left behind in the AI surge, with many large language models based on English-language data. In 2019, the UAE announced the establishment of a university dedicated to AI, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Syria bloodshed gives US legislators pause over sanctions relief
Recent violence in Syria is fuelling a debate in the US Congress about whether Washington should end all sanctions against Damascus, a move pushed by President Donald Trump, or take a more incremental approach. Mr Trump has embraced President Ahmad Al Shara since his rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, until recently designated a foreign terrorist organisation, ousted former president Bashar Al Assad in December. Mr Trump last month ordered the lifting of sanctions against Syria. Many of these can be repealed through his executive powers, but eliminating them all would need Congress to repeal the 2019 Caesar Act. Syria has been gripped by violent clashes in Sweida in the south of the country, where forces loyal to Mr Shara's government have been accused of siding with the Bedouin to kill members of the Druze community. After a ceasefire that followed strikes by Israel, the Druze were accused of rekindling the fighting with new attacks. Among those killed was Hosam Saraya, an American of Syrian Druze descent, whose killing at the hands of gunmen was shown on social media. Given the instability, some lawmakers are pushing for a conditions-based lifting of sanctions. Republican Representative Mike Lawler last week introduced a bill that would amend the Caesar Act to allow it to be waived only if the Syrian government is not targeting civilians, among other provisions. 'The Al Shara Administration certainly has a lot of work to do to reintegrate Syria with the US and our allies,' said Mr Lawler, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Financial Services Committee. 'While this job should be difficult given the circumstances, it shouldn't be impossible.' But fellow Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, who also sits on the Middle East panel, wants a clean, unconditional repeal of the Caesar Act, saying that is in line with President Trump's agenda for Syria. 'I hope that the Financial Services Committee reconsiders this measure and takes more time to study and work on Syria sanctions. A clean repeal of the Caesar Act promotes stability,' he wrote on X. Representative Maxine Waters, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, agrees with Mr Wilson's approach. She has introduced an amendment that would fully repeal the Caesar Act. The Syrian Emergency Task Force, which works to help build democracy in Syria and played a significant role in nudging the Trump administration to scrap sanctions, urged legislators to vote against Mr Lawler's bill. 'This bill undermines President Trump's new Syria policy and extends damaging sanctions until 2028 – sanctions meant for Assad, not the Syrian people,' the SETF said in a statement.
