If you’ve been on TikTok, walked through a mall, or even glanced at your Instagram feed, one name has been surfacing repeatedly: Primark. From viral “haul” videos to countdown posts, anticipation had been building steadily. And when the doors finally opened at City Centre Mirdif, that online buzz spilled into real life — long queues, people waiting it out, phones out capturing the moment, and a steady stream of visitors who seemed just as curious about the atmosphere as the merchandise. Source link
Author: Isla
The UAE Armed Forces dealt with no ballistic missiles and no drones on Thursday, the Ministry of Defence said.It marks the quietest day of missile activity in the Emirates since the Iran war began and comes a day after a two-week ceasefire was announced. The country’s air defence systems have intercepted 537 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles and 2,256 drones since Iran began its daily attacks on February 28.The pause in hostilities was confirmed by the US President Donald Trump, Iran and mediator Pakistan shortly before 4am on Wednesday morning.Since then, the UAE has said it is “seeking further clarification”…
China stands to learn a lot from the war in Iran. Red lines and deadlines imposed by the United States, even when backed by the threat of genocide, can turn out to be rather wobbly. The American military, despite its unrivaled power, has trouble swatting down swarms of cheap drones. But the most valuable lesson, at least for China’s ambitions to seize Taiwan, has more to do with the way the world’s supply chains, energy prices, and stock markets influence the U.S. willingness to fight.It remains unclear what exactly led President Trump to step back from his ultimatum Tuesday that…
For anyone who has been following U.S.-Southeast Asia relations over the past eighteen months, and especially since the onset of the Iran war, these results should not be surprising. Even before Trump took office, U.S. popularity had plummeted in parts of Southeast Asia—particularly Malaysia and Indonesia—because of the United States’ handling of the Gaza war. Indeed, even Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has close personal ties with many U.S. opinion leaders (including myself and others at CFR) and was once affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, had become publicly critical of the United States, probably reflecting broader Malaysian views.The region has…
During long holidays, if you ask young and middle-aged men in China how they’ve been occupying themselves, one answer repeatedly comes up: internet cafés.In an economy where people are increasingly watching their wallets, internet cafés have become popular again in China — offering a chance to catch up with old friends and rekindle the feeling of student days, without the upfront cost of buying their own equipment.In 2025, the number of internet cafés rose 12.7% year on year, bringing the total to 122,600 nationwide, while industry revenue surpassed 101.7 billion yuan ($14.8 billion), according to the Internet Access Service Association…
Gulftainer has rolled out the Khor Fakkan China Express (KCX 1) service to connect key Chinese ports including Qingdao, Shanghai and Nansha with Khorfakkan on a biweekly rotation.Khor Fakkan is the UAE’s only major container port outside of the Strait of Hormuz, accessible without transiting the disputed waterway. The port has been struck during the recent Middle East conflict, including attacks on ships at its anchorage.Operated under the GT Lines brand, the new container service deploys three vessels to offer a direct shipping service between major Chinese export hubs and Khorfakkan Commercial Terminal, reducing transit times and optimising delivery timelines for…
Three Chinese ships recently sailed through the Strait of Hormuz after coordination with relevant parties, a foreign ministry spokesperson told a regular daily press briefing on Tuesday, while calling for peace and stability in the Gulf Region. The critical waterway has effectively been shut since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28. “The Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding waters are an important route for global trade and energy supplies. China calls for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the fighting and restoration of peace and stability in the Gulf Region,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told…