Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The day after election day for Mohammad Qazzaz is business as usual – he potters around his family-owned coffee shop in Dearborn, Michigan, greeting customers and answering phone calls on what is likely to be a busy day.
Republican Donald Trump was announced the winner of the swing state of Michigan on Wednesday, defeating Democrat Kamala Harris.
Mr Qazzaz, who is Palestinian American, voted for third-party candidate Jill Stein this year, saying President Joe Biden's continuing support for Israel amid the wars in the Middle East was a factor in his decision.
Like many Arab Americans in Dearborn, he had enthusiastically cast his vote for Mr Biden four years ago, and was pleased when he won. Amid a bout of coronavirus, he had received a phone call from then-presidential candidate Mr Biden, who was running against Mr Trump.
What should have been five-minute call exchanging pleasantries as part of a campaign effort to reach out to Americans during the pandemic, turned into a 20-minute discussion about Palestine, Israel and US efforts to broker peace in the region. Mr Biden promised at the time that should he win, he would advance peace in the Middle East through a two-state solution to the prolonged Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
But for Mr Qazzaz and other Arab Americans, Mr Biden has not done enough to end the Gaza war and his backing of Israel following its invasion of Lebanon early last month has only increased the community's ire.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who moved to the top of the ticket after the President ended his re-election bid, was seen by many as likely to continue the Biden administration’s policy of strong support for Israel.
“I am disappointed because I do remember when he [Mr Trump] was in office, he moved the [US] embassy to Jerusalem, he gave them [the Israelis] the Golan Heights in a ceremony at the White House,” Mr Qazzaz told The National.
“But I am also happy because the Democratic Party neglected us. They didn't care about our votes, they didn't care about our voice.”
In Dearborn, where more than half of the residents are Arab Americans, Mr Trump won with more than 42 per cent of the vote, according to city results released on Wednesday. His challenger Ms Harris received a little more than 36 per cent, while third-party candidate Jill Stein got more than 18 per cent.
Michigan was one of seven swing states this election. In 2020, Mr Biden won it by 150,000 votes. On Tuesday, results show Ms Harris lost it by nearly 81,000 votes.
The results were a stunning reversal from the 2020 presidential election, when nearly 69 per cent of people in the area cast their vote for Joe Biden while Mr Trump received 30 per cent. In the south end of Dearborn, an area with a large Arab population, Mr Biden received 88 per cent of the vote.
Officials noted that many residents who voted for Mr Trump, voted for Democrats in races further down ballot.
“It's vindicating,” Mustapha Hammoud, a Dearborn Dearborn City Council member, told The National. “Anybody here could have told you this was gonna happen. People here are OK with Trump winning. No one here is stressed at all.”
Walid Murad said he voted for Mr Trump this year, though four years ago he voted for Mr Biden.
“Arab Americans voted for Trump because he has the ideology that the US should not be sending money for wars abroad,” he told The National. “I think this was the main reason. And unfortunately, the Democrats caused the US to lose influence when they were seemingly unable to stop the killing of civilians. It makes no sense to me, could we as America really not stop at least the killing of civilians?”
When Mr Trump was president four years ago, he passed the so-called Muslim travel ban, enabled the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. There is concern that he may enact another Muslim ban, cut US humanitarian aid to Palestinians and criminalise anti-war protests.
Residents of the Michigan city say their priority is the Israel-Gaza war, which has killed more than 43,300 Palestinians, and the invasion of Lebanon, which has killed about 3,000 people. No place in the US has the impact of the conflicts been felt more than in Dearborn, where dozens of residents have lost relatives and loved ones.
Mr Trump had seized on Arab-American anger with the Biden administration and increased his outreach to the community through the aid of Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman whose son is married to the President-elect's daughter.
The President-elect has promised the community that he will end the wars in the Middle East and bring peace to the region – without providing details.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
Male 51kg Round 1
Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.
Male 54kg Round 1
Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.
Male 57kg Round 1
Natthawat Suzikong (THA) beat Abdallah Ondash (LBN) by points 3-0; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Ahmed Al Jubainawi (IRQ) by points 2-1; Hamed Almatari (YEM) beat Nasser Al Rugheeb (KUW) by points 3-0; Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) beat Yu Xi Chen (TPE) by points 3-0.
Men 86kg Round 1
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1
Men 63.5kg Round 1
Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.
Female 45kg quarter finals
Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.
Female 48kg quarter finals
Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.
Female 57kg quarter finals
Nguyen Thi Nguyet (VIE) beat Anisha Shetty (IND) by points 2-1; Areeya Sahot (THA) beat Dana Al Mayyal (KUW) RSC Round 1; Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Ching Yee Tsang (HKG) by points 3-0.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
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BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
MATCH INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
