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US President Donald Trump arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, after visiting Qatar, in the final leg of his Middle East trip. He was received by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and welcomed in Abu Dhabi with a unique cultural performance, a video of which has caught the attention of social media users. Upon arriving at Qasr Al Watan – the UAE Presidential Palace – Trump was greeted with a traditional Al-Ayyala performance, a cultural art form from the Sultanate of Oman and the UAE, which involves women tossing their hair from side to side. 

A video shared on X by White House aide Margo Martin showed Trump being led through a formation of women dramatically hair-flipping in sync with drums and chants. The US President is seen blankly watching the dancers as they flip their long hair left to right. Several men could also be seen waving sword-like objects during the performance. Since being shared, the video has garnered more than 5.3 million views. In the comments section, users expressed curiosity about the cultural performance. “Can someone explain the hair tossing by the females?” asked one user. “Someone pls explain what the hair/head swing is all about,” commented another. 

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the cultural performance, called Al-Ayyala, involves chanting poetry, drum music and dance, and simulates a battle scene. Girls wearing traditional dresses stand at the front in a row, tossing their long hair from side to side. Two rows of about twenty men face each other, carrying thin bamboo sticks to signify spears or swords.

The FBI has issued a warning about a sophisticated scam targeting foreign students in the United States, particularly those from Middle Eastern countries, amidst rising concerns about immigration enforcement. Scammers are impersonating federal officials, claiming issues with students’ immigration status, and exploiting them for financial gain.

According to the FBI, the scam typically begins with a phone call that appears to come from a legitimate federal agency, such as the Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Victims are told they’ve violated their F-1 student visa conditions or face another immigration-related problem. The scammers then pressure students to pay for legal services, university registration fees, or alleged visa violations. “Criminal scammers impersonate US and foreign government officials claiming there is an issue with the student’s immigration status and exploit this for financial gain,” the FBI stated.

Students from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan have been primary targets. In some cases, they even impersonate diplomats from foreign governments, including the UAE and Qatar. “In some instances, the scammers vary this scheme by presenting themselves as government officials from foreign countries, including UAE and Qatar. Diplomats from the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC, have been impersonated as well,” the FBI noted.

This scam comes at a time of heightened anxiety among international students due to policy actions targeting foreign nationals. Visas are getting revoked for minor infractions such as traffic violations. The administration has also been targeting students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, citing potential adverse foreign policy consequences.

The FBI advises students to verify callers’ identities by contacting the relevant agency directly and being cautious with links and website domains. “If you believe you are the target of a government impersonation scam targeting foreign students, gather all relevant documentation and contact diplomatic security at your home country’s embassy, the FBI, or Bureau of Diplomatic Security at the Department of State,” the alert says.

To protect themselves, students should be aware of the following red flags:

– Unsolicited Communication: Be wary of unexpected calls or messages claiming to be from government agencies.

– Fake Government Websites: Verify website domains are legitimate government addresses (ending in .gov).

– Codes: Do not give out two-factor-authentication codes that are used to log in to a device.

– Do not download files unless you have verified the source or provide information.

If you fall victim to this scam, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and contact your bank to attempt to recall any fraudulent transactions. Gathering all relevant documentation and contacting diplomatic security at your home country’s embassy can also help. Also, keep all the records of text conversations or emails as they can be requested by law enforcement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said called for “strong” Western action against Moscow if peace talks that will be held in Istanbul fail.

“We had a real chance to take important steps toward ending this war if only Putin had not been afraid to come to Turkey,” Zelensky told European leaders in Tirana.

“If it turns out that the Russian delegation really is just theatrical and can’t deliver any results today… there needs to be a strong reaction, including sanctions against Russia’s energy sector and banks,” he said.

Negotiators from both the countries will meet today on Friday for the first peace talks after more than three years. However, expectations for a major announcement were dampened after US President Donald Trump said that there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky accused Putin of not agreeing with his meeting requests to “resolve all the important issues”. He said, “I was ready for a direct meeting with Putin, whether in Ankara or in Istanbul, and not just for a meeting but to resolve all the important issues. But he didn’t agree with anything I put to him.”

He said that Ukraine’s first priority is a “full, unconditional, and honest ceasefire”, which he said “must happen immediately to stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy”.

President Trump made a historic visit to the United Arab Emirates’ Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Thursday, marking his first publicly known visit to a Muslim house of worship during his time in office.
The mosque, known for its stunning white marble domes and Italian-marbled floors with coloured flower inlays, was cordoned off for the day in honor of Trump’s visit. As he entered the mosque, Trump removed his shoes, following the customary practice, and was escorted by Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

Trump expressed his admiration for the mosque’s beauty, saying, “Isn’t this beautiful? It is so beautiful. This is an incredible culture.” He also marvelled at the fact that the mosque had been closed for the day in his honor, remarking, “This is the first time they’ve closed the mosque for the day. Is that true? First time they closed it. It’s in honour of the United States, I think. Better than in honour of me. Let’s give it to the country. That’s a great tribute”, according to a report by the Washington Post.

The visit is part of Trump’s larger diplomatic tour through the Middle East, which began with lavish ceremonies in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. During his visit, Trump was given a ceremonial welcome with Arabian horses and honour guards. Notably, Trump has extensive family business interests in all three countries, with Trump-branded towers and golf courses being developed, per NPR.

Trump’s relationship with the UAE’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, has been built on the country’s decision to normalise relations with Israel during Trump’s first term. Interestingly, Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, visited the same mosque in 2020, while working as administration officials.

This visit marks a significant moment in Trump’s presidency, as he attempts to navigate complex diplomatic relationships in the Middle East. While it’s common for US presidents to visit churches, only a few have made official visits to mosques.

President Dwight Eisenhower opened a Washington, D.C. mosque in 1957, while former President George W. Bush gave a speech at the same mosque in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks. However, when former President Barack Obama visited a mosque near Baltimore in 2016, Trump criticised him, telling Fox News, “Maybe he feels comfortable there …

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