US President Donald Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America'. Reuters
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America'. Reuters
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America'. Reuters
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America'. Reuters

Google Maps to show ‘Gulf of Mexico’ and ‘Gulf of America’ to global users after Trump move


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Google has said it will restore the name Mount McKinley to North America's highest peak and rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” on its Maps app, complying with executive orders by Donald Trump.

“We have a long-standing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” a spokesman for the search and tech giant said on Monday.

Google said the changes align with its policy of following official US government geographic designations through the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), and will come into effect when the GNIS is updated. Mr Trump signed executive orders changing the names of Denali and the Gulf of Mexico soon after his January 20 swearing-in as president.

The first change reverses former president Barack Obama's 2015 decision to officially recognise Denali, the name used by Alaska Natives for centuries, as the name of North America's highest peak. The second order renames the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”, with the executive order citing its importance to US oil production, fishing and tourism.

The term "Gulf of America" was soon used by the US Coast Guard in a press release on the enforcement of Mr Trump's new crackdown on migrants, as well as Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, when discussing a winter storm. The moves have sparked criticism from indigenous groups in Alaska, who have long advocated to maintain the Denali name, and raised diplomatic concerns with Mexico.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has suggested referring to the US as “Mexican America”, pointing to a map from before one third of her country was seized by the US in 1848. Google said that users outside the US will continue to see both the original and new names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali, as is always the case for disputed locations. It is not yet clear if Apple will make the change in their Apple Maps app.

Thanksgiving meals to try

World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.

Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as  well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.

The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.

Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

How to volunteer

The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.

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Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

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Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”

Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad

 

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Favourite vegetable: Broccoli

Favourite food: Seafood

Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange

Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania

Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.

Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes

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Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

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Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

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