US President Donald Trump has never had much time for developing nations, using particularly ugly language to describe African states and Haiti during his first term.
He was back at it this week, blasting what he called “Third World” nations as he approved an indefinite pause on all immigration applications filed by immigrants from 19 countries that had already been under visa restrictions since June.
The move comes after an Afghan immigrant allegedly shot two members of the National Guard near the White House. Among the other nations on the list is Somalia, a country the US President seems to find particularly affronting.
During a lengthy cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Trump said of Somalis: “We don't want them in our country. They just run around killing each other. Their country stinks.”
He has apparently been rankled by Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somalia-born Democrat from Minnesota and long-standing critic of Mr Trump and Republican policies.
“We can go one way or the other, and we’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in rubbish into our country,” Mr Trump said. “Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage, her friends are garbage.”
Ms Omar responded by saying his “obsession with me is creepy”, adding that she hoped he gets the “help he desperately needs”.
Mr Trump's physical appearance also raised eyebrows during the more than two-hour Cabinet briefing. His right hand was covered with make-up and a sticking plaster, possibly to mask another bruise that the President, 79, has previously insisted comes from his vigorous handshake. He also appeared to be on the brink of dozing off on several occasions as his Cabinet members took turns flattering him.
Notably present at the meeting was Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Observers had thought he might join a Nato summit in Brussels or top officials in Moscow trying to sell Russia on a US-backed plan to end the war in Ukraine. Instead, Mr Rubio stayed in Washington to credit his boss for the “most transformational year in American foreign policy" since the end of the Second World War.
Eye on the White House
Pentagon chief comes under fresh fire
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. AP
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is again dominating headlines, this time after a news report said he had issued a verbal order for all crew members to be killed in a maritime attack against an alleged drug-smuggling boat on September 2.
He vigorously denied any direct role in attacking survivors of an earlier strike and accused the press of making up stories.
“You sit in your air-conditioned offices or up on Capitol Hill and you nitpick and you plant fake stories in The Washington Post about 'kill everybody' phrases … not based in any truth at all,” he said at the Cabinet meeting.
The statement irked veteran Pentagon reporters, many of whom have reported from combat zones and seen colleagues or loved ones killed.
Mr Hegseth is drawing further scrutiny after the Pentagon's watchdog reportedly found that he had put US personnel and their mission at risk when he used the Signal messaging app to convey sensitive information about a strike against Houthi militants in Yemen. That watchdog report is due to be released today.
Tourism goals The US hopes to lay out a giant welcome mat for international tourists at next year's Fifa World Cup but geopolitics and the Trump administration's harsh anti-immigrant stance could discourage some from visiting. A surge in tourism would bring a boost for businesses after a projected decline in overall visitor numbers since Mr Trump took office in January.
Muslim Brotherhood designation The House foreign relations committee yesterday passed along a bill to the full chamber that would compel Mr Trump to designate the whole of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organisation. It goes further than a recent executive order that sought to proscribe some chapters of the Brotherhood, but not all, and notably not its branches in Turkey or Qatar.
Truth storm Journalists and others with the dubious honour of getting push notifications from Mr Trump's Truth Social account saw their mobile phones melt down on Monday night, when @realDonaldTrump sent out more than 150 messages in a matter of hours. Perhaps that explains his drowsiness at the Cabinet meeting. Happily, smartphones have a mute notification option.
President Donald Trump's Truth Social account went into overdrive on Monday night
Spotlight Can Zohran Mamdani save New York's tourism industry?
New York's Times Square. Bloomberg
There’s a moment in Sex and the City that has outlasted the show itself: Carrie Bradshaw, strolling through Manhattan with her friends, looks out at the city and declares, “You only get one great love – New York may just be mine.”
Lately, though, it feels as if the romance has fizzled out. The Manhattan of 2025 feels noticeably subdued.
The glow of Midtown’s towers still flickers, but the pavements feel emptier, tour buses with spare seats are idle, shops are deserted and queues that once wrapped around Broadway box offices have dissolved into scattered handfuls of theatregoers.
The Empire State Building, once packed daily with photo-snapping, jet-lagged travellers, has had days with no queues at all.
The numbers confirm what the streets suggest. New York City Tourism estimates that international tourism – long the lifeblood of the city’s visitor economy – remains 20 to 25 per cent below 2019 levels. Can Zohran Mamdani, the city's mayor-elect, reverse the trend?
Raccoon passes out after breaking into shop selling alcohol
The raccoon passed out in the shop's bathroom. AP
The suspect in a break-in at a shop selling alcohol in the US state of Virginia left a trail of broken glass and ended up in a heap on the bathroom floor.
Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter reported that a raccoon broke into the Ashland ABC Store over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
One of the shelter's officers was called to the scene on Saturday morning and discovered the “suspect” had ransacked several shelves and passed out in the bathroom.
Photos showed an aisle of the store littered with broken bottles, and the raccoon spread-eagled, facedown, beside the lavatory.
Raccoons, known for their dexterous paws, are native to North America. They are nocturnal and often rifle through rubbish and other places as they scavenge for food.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
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
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Brief scoreline:
Wales 1
James 5'
Slovakia 0
Man of the Match: Dan James (Wales)
Tamkeen's offering
Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
Option 2: 50% across three years
Option 3: 30% across five years
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
