Best photos of May 31: Tribute to Gaza's children in Portugal to protestor kicking riot police in Argentina
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Cosmopolitan ME
2 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan ME
Global hijab stories are nuanced, and we're here for it
The hijab is one of the most visible and misunderstood symbols of Islam, yet to wear it (or not) is deeply personal, spiritual, and, for many Muslim women, complicated. Across the globe, Muslim women navigate a spectrum of experiences shaped by culture, politics, family, and personal conviction. For some, the hijab is an empowering act of devotion and identity. For others, it can feel like a burden, a choice constantly questioned or even stripped away by societal expectations. But here's what often gets lost in mainstream narratives: there is no one way to be a Muslim woman. From Dubai to New York City to the world, Muslimahs are rewriting what the hijab means to them. Cosmopolitan Middle East spotlights Muslim women around the world who speak candidly about their relationship with the hijab. These stories aim to reflect the fluidity and freedom in what it means to cover (or not) on their terms. Supplied. Photography by Carlos Velez; Makeup by Ali Lee Glam I will be proudly competing for the title of Miss New York USA 2025 and I'm a Black American woman in Brooklyn, New York. I consider myself a lifelong student of Islam. My faith continues to evolve and deepen as I grow, learn, and connect more with its teachings. I fully committed to wearing the hijab during Ramadan 2023. By the second day, I noticed how calm and safe I felt walking down the street, no catcalls from men, no judgmental stares from women. For the first time since childhood, I felt truly protected, like I was wrapped in divine armour. That awakening of peace became the reason I chose to never take it off. After so many years of feeling exposed, I can't imagine going out in public without it. It's become a sacred part of how I move through the world. Supplied. Photography by Ilayda Kaplan. I work as a model and stylist, and I'm the founder of Ummunity, a creative agency that centers and uplifts Muslim voices. I've been wearing the hijab since I was 15. It was a conscious, heartfelt decision and I remember how my parents responded: proud, but cautious. As a visibly Black Muslim woman in Germany, they knew it wouldn't be easy. I grew up watching the powerful women in my family wearing it with dignity and strength. I've never taken it off, but of course there were moments of struggle. Sometimes I felt limited not because of the hijab itself, but because of how society treated me for wearing it. My hijab is part of my journey back to myself. Supplied. Photography by Bianka Gill I am a Bangladeshi comedian, artist, and entrepreneur based in Toronto, Canada. I'm no longer a practicing Muslim, but I still have a spiritual connection to it. I wore a hijab from 8 years old to 21 years old. Unfortunately, I was forced to wear it by my abusive mother who used it as a form of control and dominance. I took off my hijab when my mom went back home to Bangladesh. I think if anyone is forced to do something they don't want to do, eventually that pressure will combust. Having been on both sides of the coin, it's clear that if a woman is completely covered up or not, she will be judged. Women can and should do whatever they want. I don't want to perpetuate negative or Islamophobic rhetoric though just because I've made the decision not to wear it. It's a fine balance that I feel responsible for and compelled to do, since so many comics punch down on Islam if they've had trauma with Islam. I still call myself Muslim to this day because I feel like it adds context to who I am, whether I'm religious or not. Supplied I am a pharmacist and the co-founder of The Sabaya Circle. I'm a Jordanian living in Dubai. I decided to take the step of wearing hijab back in August 2023. While I was going through a difficult time in life trying to navigate what I want, I started focusing more on my deen (spirit). It is a form of self love and selflessness. We 'sacrifice' a portion of our beauty to practice what we preach. The self-love aspect comes from loving yourself enough to choose something that you view as right for yourself. Supplied I am a Pakistani Muslim beauty influencer living in Calgary, Canada. Although I haven't committed to wearing the hijab full-time yet, I am building an increasingly modest wardrobe as I hope to wear hijab in the future. I wish it was understood how much of the oppression people often associate with Islam stems from culture disguised as religion; for many Muslim women, hijab symbolises freedom and self-agency, not weakness and oppression. I believe that our choice to wear hijab should always come from submission to God, rather than submission to any other human being. Next, read about faith and finance from our Ask a Muslim Girl Column here.
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Trump hits more countries with steep tariffs, markets tumble
U.S. President Donald Trump's latest wave of tariffs on exports from dozens of trading partners, including Canada, Brazil, India and Taiwan, sent global stock markets down on Friday as countries pushed for talks to clinch better deals. Trump's new tariff rates include a 35% duty on many goods from Canada, 50% for Brazil, 25% for India, 20% for Taiwan and 39% for Switzerland. The presidential order listed higher import duty rates of 10% to 41% starting in seven days for 69 trading partners, effectively taking the U.S. effective tariff rate to about 18%, from 2.3% last year, according to analysts at Capital Economics. Global shares stumbled, with the STOXX 600 down 1.3% at its lowest in a month. U.S. stock index futures were down 1%, indicating a drop at the start of trade on Wall Street later. Futures tied to Canada's main stock index slipped. The market response was not as volatile as April's global asset declines, said Wei Yao, research head and chief economist in Asia at Societe Generale, referring to the market slide after Trump's initial tariffs announced on April 2. "We are all getting much more used to the idea of 15-20% tariffs being manageable and acceptable, thanks to the worse threats earlier," she said. But Trump's tariff rollout comes amid evidence they have begun driving up prices. U.S. Commerce Department data released Thursday showed prices for home furnishings and durable household equipment jumped 1.3% in June, the biggest gain since March 2022. NO WINNERS? Countries hit with hefty tariffs said they will seek to negotiate with the U.S. in hopes of getting a lower rate. Switzerland said it would push for a "negotiated solution" with the U.S. "It's a massive shock for the export industry and for the whole country. We are really stunned," said Jean-Philippe Kohl, deputy director of Swissmem, representing Switzerland's mechanical and electrical engineering industries. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said the new 20% tariff rate for the island was "temporary" and that he expected to reach a lower figure. South Africa's Trade Minister Parks Tau said he was seeking "real, practical interventions" to defend jobs and the economy against the 30% U.S. tariff it faces. Southeast Asian countries breathed a sigh of relief after the U.S. tariffs on their exports that were lower than threatened and levelled the playing field with a rate of about 19% across the region's biggest economies. Thailand's finance minister said a reduction from 36% to 19% would help his country's economy. "It helps maintain Thailand's competitiveness on the global stage, boosts investor confidence and opens the door to economic growth, increased income and new opportunities," Pichai Chunhavajira said. Australian products could become more competitive in the U.S. market, helping businesses boost exports, Trade Minister Don Farrell said, after Trump kept the minimum tariff rate of 10% for Australia. But businesses and analysts said the impact of Trump's new trade regime would not be positive for economic growth. "No real winners in trade conflicts," said Thomas Rupf, co-head Singapore and CIO Asia at VP Bank. "Despite some countries securing better terms, the overall impact is negative." "The tariffs hurt the Americans and they hurt us," winemaker Johannes Selbach said in Germany's Moselle Valley. "Thousands of families who produce wine in Europe and thousands of families in the importing, wholesaling, retailing, restaurant business in the U.S. are dependent on the flow from both sides," he said, adding jobs and profits would be hit. Goods from all other countries not listed in Trump's executive orders will face a 10% U.S. import tax. Trump had previously said that rate might be higher. The administration also teased that more trade deals were in the pipeline. CANADA, INDIA, CHINA The Republican president has tapped emergency powers, pressured foreign leaders, and pressed ahead with trade policies that sparked a market sell-off when they were first announced in April. Trump's order said some trading partners, "despite having engaged in negotiations, have offered terms that, in my judgment, do not sufficiently address imbalances in our trading relationship or have failed to align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national-security matters." Trump issued a separate order for Canada that raises the rate on Canadian goods subject to fentanyl-related tariffs to 35%, from 25% previously, saying Canada had "failed to cooperate" in curbing illicit narcotics flows into the U.S. The higher tariffs on Canadian goods contrasted sharply with Trump's decision to grant Mexico a 90-day reprieve from higher tariffs of 30% on many goods to allow time to negotiate a broader trade pact. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was disappointed by Trump's decision, and vowed to take action to protect Canadian jobs and diversify exports. India is in trade talks with the U.S. after Washington imposed a 25% tariff on New Delhi, a move that could impact about $40 billion worth of its exports, an Indian government source with knowledge of the talks told Reuters on Friday. China is facing an August 12 deadline to reach a durable tariff agreement with Trump's administration. A U.S. official told reporters that they are making progress toward a deal. The European Union struck an agreement on a blanket 15% tariff with the U.S. at the end of July. (Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper; Writing by Ingrid Melander. Editing by Jane Merriman)
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Danger signs flash in US job market as hiring slows
The US labour market showed signs it may be slowing down on Friday, with a new jobs report putting employment growth at a much lower level than expected. The Labour Department's employment report for July showed US employers added just 73,000 jobs, and revisions for May and June showed hiring was weaker in May and June that initially thought. President Donald Trump immediately renewed his attack on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, calling him a 'disaster' after the Fed on Wednesday paused cutting interest rates. 'Too Little, Too Late. Jerome 'Too Late Powell is a disaster. DROP THE RATE! The good news is that Tariffs are bringing Billions of Dollars into the USA!' Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. Economists polled by Reuters had thought July's jobs number would be 110,000. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2 per cent. The dollar weakened and stock futures slumped. Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management, said Mr Powell might have lowered interest rates on Wednesday if he 'knew then what he knows now'. 'There's no way to pretty-up this report. Previous months were revised significantly lower where the labour market has been on stall-speed,' he said, predicting a rate cut at the next Fed meeting. The unexpectedly weak report raises questions about the health of the job market and the economy amid Mr Trump's radical efforts to reshape US trade policy. Late on Thursday, he unveiled hefty tariffs on imports from across the globe. 'President Trump is using tariffs as a necessary and powerful tool to put America First after many years of unsustainable trade deficits that threaten our economy and national security,' the White House said. Also weighing on the economy is an anticipated drop in foreign workers as Mr Trump pushes ahead to efforts to deport immigrants in the US without legal authorisation, though the President has suggested farmers and hoteliers might be spared wholesale round-ups of their staff.
