President Sheikh Mohamed spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the quest for regional peace. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / Reuters
President Sheikh Mohamed spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the quest for regional peace. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / Reuters
President Sheikh Mohamed spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the quest for regional peace. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / Reuters
President Sheikh Mohamed spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the quest for regional peace. Photo: UAE Presidential Court / Reuters

President Sheikh Mohamed calls for two-state solution in talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio


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President Sheikh Mohamed stressed the importance of securing "just and comprehensive peace" in the Middle East during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The UAE leader underlined the need to maintain security and stability in the region, based on a two-state solution, as the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel comes under growing pressure.

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Rubio focused on developments in the Middle East, as well as other international issues, during the talks, state news agency Wam reported on Wednesday.

The two men also discussed ways to strengthen co-operation across various fields as part of the strategic relationship between the nations.

Mr Rubio was appointed Secretary of State in Donald Trump's White House administration last month.

The former Florida senator, who has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is expected to be a key figure in guiding US foreign policy.

The call took place amid regional concerns over Mr Trump's vow to take over control of Gaza, which has attracted fierce opposition.

The US President on Tuesday said there was “nothing to buy” in the Gaza Strip and that the US will “take it”, reiterating his claim that Arab countries are on board with his plan to displace the Palestinian enclave's population and move them to parcels of land in Jordan, Egypt and “someplace else”.

Speaking alongside Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House, Mr Trump also said he did not think Hamas would honour a Saturday deadline to release the hostages it still holds, implying the conflict would reignite.

“They either have them out by Saturday at 12 o'clock or all bets are off,” Mr Trump said, shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was amassing troops inside and outside the Gaza Strip.

Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE ambassador to the US, said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Wednesday that the country's diplomatic path was not based on any one president or strategy. When asked about finding common ground with the Trump administration on Gaza, he said the UAE was “going to try”.

“I think the current approach is going to be difficult but, at the end of the day, we're all in the solution-seeking business," he added. "We just don't know where it's going to land yet.”

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

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

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

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The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

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The seven points are:

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Dhafeer Street

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Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

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The 12

England

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
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Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars

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Director: M. Night Shyamalan

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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

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

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Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

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Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Updated: February 12, 2025, 3:24 PM`