Latest news with #Efe
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Why This Turkish Traveler Fell in Love with Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, Jun 10: When Efe Şen boarded his flight from Istanbul to Kuwait, he wasn't chasing anything big. Just a few peaceful days — some sightseeing, good food, maybe a little shopping. But what he ended up carrying back home wasn't a souvenir you can buy. It was a story — one he never saw coming. 'I came to Kuwait just to explore,' Efe says, smiling as he recalls the trip. 'I wanted to see the culture, meet the people. But the first thing that caught my eye? The way people dressed. There was something so elegant and proud about it. It moved me.' Inspired by what he saw, Efe decided to try something different. He put together an outfit that reflected the traditional Kuwaiti men's attire, with a bit of his Turkish style mixed in. It wasn't for attention. It was a quiet nod of respect. A way to say, I see you. I admire this. And then something beautiful happened. 'As I walked through the streets in my outfit, the air was warm and carried the scent of cardamom from a nearby café. People just lit up,' he says. 'Cars honked — but not in a bad way. People were smiling and waving. Kids came up and asked to take pictures. I no longer felt like a tourist. I felt like I was part of the place.' Then came the moment that stuck with him. A police car slowed down next to him. Efe admits his heart jumped a little — Was I doing something wrong? he wondered. Did I make a mistake without realizing it? But instead of trouble, he found kindness. 'The officer got out of the car, smiled at me, and said, 'No problem.' Then he reached out and gently adjusted my collar with the same care you'd use for a friend — made sure it looked just right. That was it. He didn't ask for anything. Just wanted to help me look my best.' It was such a small thing. But to Efe, it meant the world. 'That moment hit me hard. Here was someone — a police officer — taking time out of his day just to help a foreigner feel more at home. It wasn't just about clothes. It was about respect. Humanity. Connection.' The story didn't end there. A Turkish news outlet reported on the incident and shared it. Soon, Efe's phone was buzzing with messages from friends and strangers. People were genuinely touched by the story. A Kuwaiti TV channel even reached out for an interview — though, sadly, Efe had to fly home before it could happen. 'I didn't want to leave,' he laughs. 'Honestly, a part of me stayed behind in Kuwait.' Now back in Istanbul, Efe shares his experience whenever he can. Not because it went viral. But because it reminded him — and reminds others — of how powerful a single act of kindness can be. 'The people of Kuwait — from the families in the streets to that one amazing officer — made me feel so welcomed. I'll never forget that. I hope to return in July. And if I'm lucky, I'll get to meet that officer again.' In a time where the world often feels divided, Efe's story is a reminder of what can happen when someone, somewhere, chooses kindness. You don't need to speak the same language to make someone feel seen. And sometimes, he realized, the most important journeys are the ones that take place within us. Some souvenirs are bought. But the best ones? They stay with you, quietly, forever.
Local Spain
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
Trump's govt demands more defence spending in first contact with Spain
Since taking being sworn in on January 20th, US President Donald Trump hasn't had any direct diplomatic contact with Spain. Up until now there have been no messages or calls either between the new administration and the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez or the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. The only comment Trump made regarding Spain was on the day of his inauguration when reporter asked the US President what they can expect NATO countries that spend the least amount of money, like Spain and he responded that Spain's contribution "is very low". Trump also then wrongly called Spain was a BRICS nation, which is a group of emerging nations led by Russia and China. But on Friday March 29th, Under Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Rubio's second-in-command, "spoke with Spain's Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, Diego Martínez Belío, reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Spain alliance and urged Spain to increase its defence spending in line with its NATO commitments," read the brief message released by his office after the phone call. "The Under Secretary and the Secretary of State discussed deepening our ties across a wide range of mutual interests, including strengthening cooperation on migration." The Foreign Ministry described the conversation as "cordial," according to Efe, Spanish international news agency. But the main point that the Trump administration wanted to discuss and prioritise is the amount Spain spends on defence. Spain currently spends 1.28 percent of GDP spent on defence, according to recent data, which is lower than any other NATO country. But, recently, NATO Secretary General Marc Rutte explained that Spain had shown its intention to reach the two percent minimum, to which all the alliance members committed to in 2014. Even though Spain spends the least, it invests much more in capabilities and missions than many of those countries that exceed the two percent threshold. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended Spain's efforts a couple of months ago by saying: 'In the last 10 years, we have increased by 70 percent our total defence expenditure. If we take those figures in absolute terms, what we can say is that Spain is the 10th top contributor to Nato". Spain has agreed to revise its commitment and reach the promised two-percent of GDP target by 2029, but that plans to do so by this summer are unrealistic. In the next five years, Spain's defence budget will go from €17.5 billion to €36.56 billion, which is more than double.
Emirates 24/7
13-02-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
Türkiye-Arab trade surpassed AED200 billion in 2024
Murat Efe, Founder and Chairman of the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum, stated that Turkish-Arab economic relations are continuously developing, with trade between the two sides exceeding AED200 billion in 2024. In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the third day of the 2025 World Government Summit, he added that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Türkiye contributed to an 11 percent increase in trade between the two countries in 2024, in addition to strengthening mutual investments in the solar and hydroelectric energy sectors, as well as aviation. Efe highlighted that the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum is focused on enhancing economic relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and North Africa. He noted that more than 80 percent of Türkiye's foreign trade is with Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. He also pointed out that Türkiye's GDP is approaching US$1.2 trillion, and that 80 percent of its foreign trade reflects a clear expansion in its economic relations, adding that Türkiye will focus on integrating advanced technologies into industry and aviation in the coming period. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Zawya
13-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Turkey-Arab trade surpassed $54.45bln in 2024
DUBAI, 13th February, 2025 (WAM) -- Murat Efe, Founder and Chairman of the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum, stated that Turkish-Arab economic relations are continuously developing, with trade between the two sides exceeding AED200 billion in 2024. In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the third day of the 2025 World Government Summit, he added that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Türkiye contributed to an 11 percent increase in trade between the two countries in 2024, in addition to strengthening mutual investments in the solar and hydroelectric energy sectors, as well as aviation. Efe highlighted that the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum is focused on enhancing economic relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and North Africa. He noted that more than 80 percent of Türkiye's foreign trade is with Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. He also pointed out that Türkiye's GDP is approaching US$1.2 trillion, and that 80 percent of its foreign trade reflects a clear expansion in its economic relations, adding that Türkiye will focus on integrating advanced technologies into industry and aviation in the coming period.
