It has been an extraordinary week since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the US. From his executive orders and unconventional partnerships to his declaration that God spared him from assassination attempts to fulfil his mission of making America great again, Mr Trump is dominating global headlines once again.
Even more remarkable is the extent to which world leaders – politicians, tech innovators, AI experts, and business moguls alike – are taking him seriously. Some do so out of fear of the consequences of challenging him, while others are betting on being a part of the potential benefits of his economic and political policies.
Either way, Mr Trump is no longer the man many dismissed as impulsive, chaotic, or irrational. Today, he is a leader making bold, independent decisions with confidence, leveraging his political savvy to implement unconventional policies. While he remains divisive at home and controversial abroad, Mr Trump has already achieved one of his key goals: commanding serious attention worldwide.
The new America under Donald Trump: a nation that inspires both anxiety and optimism among global leaders
There is no need for psychologists or political scientists to understand Mr Trump’s priorities in his second term. Indeed, he has articulated them clearly, using straightforward, firm, and often harsh language. This began on his inauguration day, when he sat in the Oval Office signing executive orders with his bold signature in black ink, addressing journalists’ questions with detailed knowledge and comprehensive explanations of complex issues.
When addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, live from the White House, Mr Trump adopted a blunt tone with European nations and the financial world, and his message was unmistakably clear. Under his leadership, America’s greatness would no longer come at its own expense rather the other nations benefiting from it would be expected to shoulder the financial burden.
To business leaders, he highlighted the advantages of manufacturing and producing in America, offering tax incentives. But for those unwilling to comply, he warned of steep tariffs. His message boiled down to this: America’s greatness, and the pragmatic economic policies this demands, is what matters to him.
Without hesitation, his message was straightforward, as if it say: you are welcome as partners and investors in America, where opportunities and incentives await you. However, if you choose otherwise, that is your choice – but be aware that tariffs and restrictions on your goods will not work in your favour.
Trump wants his legacy to be that of a peacemaker but he aims to achieve this through unorthodox methods, not traditional diplomatic norms
Even with allies he holds in high regard, such as Saudi Arabia – he called Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a "great man" – Mr Trump prioritised American interests, calling for lower oil prices in line with his goal of boosting the US economy; and encouraging Riyadh to increase investments in his country from $600 billion to $1 trillion, although this was framed as mutually beneficial for the two countries.
Mr Trump wants his legacy to be that of a peacemaker, as he declared in his inaugural speech, but he aims to achieve this through unorthodox methods, not traditional diplomatic norms. As a businessman, he approaches negotiations with a dealmaker’s mindset, the art of the deal, starting with maximalist demands but expecting others to eventually meet him halfway. For those unwilling to co-operate, his strategy is simple: blame them, isolate them, and impose punitive sanctions.
His approach to the Ukraine war reflects this philosophy. Free of lofty rhetoric or back room deals, Mr Trump sent a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin: the door for negotiation is open, but the cost of waiting would weigh heavily on Russia and her president, not on the US.
Mr Trump views financial pressure and imposed bankruptcy as a tool for deterrence but also as a means to avoid military confrontation, as exemplified by his strategy with Iran. However, he has made it clear he would not hesitate to take military action if Tehran crossed the nuclear red line or continued supporting proxy groups such as Hamas in Palestine or Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In Yemen, Mr Trump has re-designated the Houthi movement as a “foreign terrorist organisation” and imposed severe sanctions to deter attacks on US interests, regional allies and to ensure maritime security in the Red Sea. His messaging underscored Iran’s direct responsibility for the situation in the Red Sea while hinting at the roles of China and Russia in leveraging Houthi alliances to secure their own strategic interests.
Strategically, Mr Trump has no intention of entangling America in wars during his presidency as he has a genuine aversion to them. He also refuses to dedicate his energy to conflicts he deems secondary to US interests, such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict or the emerging Syrian question. Instead, his focus lies closer home, such as on disputes with Mexico, or extends to grander ambitions, including his grand proposals involving Greenland, Panama and even Canada.
Still, Mr Trump’s vision does not necessarily lie in these lofty dreams but rather in his drive to reduce costly bureaucracy and replace it with administrative efficiency. He wants to transform the US into a more agile, resilient, and great power that is able to grow and reposition itself without being weighed down financially and materially by the cost of its dominance, as has often been the case in the past.
The new “Great America”, which seeks to maintain global peace through a modern “Pax Americana”, wants a world where other nations share the responsibility of funding their own peace.
Mr Trump plans to push Europe not only to pay its fair share within Nato but also to reform itself – eliminating excessive bureaucracy that stifles growth and addressing a chronic inefficiency when compared to the American work ethic.
Mr Trump’s vision is also futuristic through unprecedented partnerships aimed, in part, at containing China’s ambitions to dominate in technology and artificial intelligence. Indeed, part of this vision is the Stargate project, a monumental $500 billion initiative designed to build advanced AI infrastructure in the US over the next four years.
The companies leading this effort, including SoftBank and OpenAI, along with key participants such as Microsoft and Nvidia, reflect the ambition to pool expertise and resources in technology.
The project’s primary goal is to secure the US a commanding lead in the global race for artificial intelligence development – a transformation that many have described as the greatest technological shift in modern history.
Although billionaire Elon Musk has voiced criticism of Stargate, the point here is Mr Trump’s grand vision. Indeed, the project represents a critical opportunity to reinforce America’s leadership role while balancing national and international priorities.
Comparisons have been even drawn between Stargate and the New Deal, the landmark economic programmes introduced by former US president Franklin D Roosevelt in the 1930s. However, this time, the focus is technological, with artificial intelligence taking centre stage.
This is the new America under Mr Trump: a nation that inspires both anxiety and optimism among global leaders. It is the America he is poised to lead for the next four years. There is little point in trying to unravel the inner workings or to speculate about the role of the “deep state” in this vision because Mr Trump, in his own way, embodies a kind of simplicity and clarity of purpose.
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Company%20profile
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL
%3Cp%3EYears%3A%20October%202015%20-%20June%202024%3Cbr%3ETotal%20games%3A%20491%3Cbr%3EWin%20percentage%3A%2060.9%25%3Cbr%3EMajor%20trophies%3A%206%20(Premier%20League%20x%201%2C%20Champions%20League%20x%201%2C%20FA%20Cup%20x%201%2C%20League%20Cup%20x%202%2C%20Fifa%20Club%20World%20Cup%20x1)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PETER%20PAN%20%26%20WENDY
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDavid%20Lowery%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alexander%20Molony%2C%20Ever%20Anderson%2C%20Joshua%20Pickering%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Honeymoonish
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Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
more from Janine di Giovanni
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
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Company%20Profile
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Opening weekend Premier League fixtures
Weekend of August 10-13
Arsenal v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Cardiff City
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Huddersfield Town v Chelsea
Liverpool v West Ham United
Manchester United v Leicester City
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Burnley
Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
The squad traveling to Brazil:
Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.
Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The%20specs
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PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
