Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
US president-elect Donald Trump warned on Monday there would be "all hell to pay" if the remaining hostages held in the Middle East are not freed before he takes office on January 20.
Writing after the Israeli military confirmed the death of Omer Neutra, an Israeli-American who was thought to have been kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, Mr Trump said those responsible for taking hostages would be "hit harder" than anyone in US history.
Mr Trump, who also said hostage-release negotiations so far have been "all talk and no action", has indicated that he will lift even the minor constraints the US has imposed on Israel as it has flattened the Gaza Strip. Last month, senior Republicans said "reinforcements are on the way" for Israel in terms of US backing.
In his post, Mr Trump did not refer to Israel or Hamas but wrote about Middle East hostages being held "violently" and "inhumanely".
The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that started the Gaza war resulted in about 1,200 people being killed on October 7, 2023 with another 240 kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip. About 100 captives are still being held in Gaza, one third of whom are believed to be dead.
The Israeli military confirmed on Monday that Mr Neutra, 21, had been killed during the initial Hamas attack, when he was serving in the Israeli military as a tank platoon commander and was stationed at the border with Gaza.
Born in New York City and raised on nearby Long Island, Mr Neutra moved to Israel after spending time there on a gap year. The tank he was in came under fire from Hamas militants and it was believed he and members of his crew were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip.
For the past 14 months, his parents Ronen and Orna Neutra had campaigned tirelessly for his release, including speaking at the Republican National Convention in July.
They spoke to The National this month, when they urged Mr Trump to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
“We are confident that the new administration can bring a fresh perspective and decisive action needed to bring our son and the hostages back, and bring de-escalation to the whole Middle East,” Mr Neutra said at the time. A year ago the Neutras had also met President Joe Biden, who issued a statement on Monday.
“Our hearts are heavy today,” he said. “[First lady] Jill and I are devastated and outraged to learn of the death of Omer Neutra, an American citizen, whose body Hamas has apparently been holding since they killed him during their brutal terrorist attack October 7.”
Mr Biden added that he would continue to push for the release of hostages held in Gaza throughout the remainder of his presidency.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
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