French President Emmanuel Macron, who on Friday visited three toddlers injured in a knife attack at a playground in the Alpine town of Annecy, said he has received “positive” news about their condition.
Four young children were among six people stabbed in the picturesque Alpine town of Annecy on Thursday morning as they played in Le Paquier park, a usually tranquil place popular with tourists for its stunning views of Lake Annecy and the mountains.
One of the victims is British and another is from the Netherlands. Two of the children were in a critical but stable condition, officials said earlier on Friday. One of the adults also suffered life-threatening wounds.
Speaking in the south-eastern city of Grenoble where three of the children, including the British toddler, are being treated, Mr Macron said he had heard “positive” news about their condition.
The President, who earlier described the attack as “cowardly”, added: “Everything that I was told is heading in the right direction”.
Two adults, both men in their 70s, were also wounded. The youngest child injured is only 22 months old and the oldest is three.
The fourth child is in a Swiss hospital across the border in Geneva.
The President, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, will also visit those who have “contributed in helping and supporting them”, his office said.
“From what I understand, there are still two children considered to be in critical condition,” government spokesman Olivier Veran told Franceinfo radio on Friday.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne confirmed all four children had undergone surgery and “are under constant medical surveillance”.
Ms Borne also confirmed all four children are in a stable condition in hospital.
Mr Macron is also due to meet a man named Henri who is being hailed as a hero for chasing the attacker from the playground.
The 24-year-old, who was on a walking tour of France's cathedrals at the time, was near the playground when he saw the man attacking children in a pushchair as their mother tried to shield them on Thursday.
On Friday, he said his Catholic faith gave him the strength to fight, and said that it was “God's will” that he was there and able to intervene.
“All I know is that I was not there by chance. On my journey to the cathedrals, I crossed paths with this man and I have acted instinctively. It was unthinkable to do nothing,” the philosophy and management student told CNEWS.
The public prosecutor of Annecy confirmed the suspect's custody had been extended on Friday morning.
Translated to English, a tweet said: “Stab attack in Annecy. The defendant's custody is extended. No other communication planned for this day in the state.”
One of the adults involved suffered serious injuries as a result of a knife wound from the attacker and a bullet wound from police as they shot at the attacker while trying to detain him, according to local prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis.
The suspect, who was pursued by bystanders, was shot at by police and detained. He was not injured and is still being questioned.
Witnesses said the man shouted “in the name of Jesus Christ” as he launched the attack, stabbing a child in a pushchair repeatedly as bystanders screamed for help.
“Children and one adult are between life and death. The nation is in shock,” Mr Macron said.
Ms Borne said during a press conference in Annecy: “These are very small children who were very seriously injured – as a parent and citizen, we are already very shocked.”
When asked if there would be anger over the suspect's being a migrant, Ms Borne said “solidarity must come first”.
The prosecutor in Annecy confirmed the detained man, later identified as Abdelmasih Hanoun, whom investigators describe as a “declared and devout Christian”, was of no fixed address and did not appear to have a “terrorist motive”.
Officials said he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, was not known by any intelligence service and did not have “any history of psychiatric problems”.
Ms Borne said Mr Hanoun had been granted asylum in Sweden and had entered France legally with Swedish identity documents and driving licence.
The Swedish Migration Agency confirmed he was granted permanent residency in 2013 and said he subsequently sought Swedish citizenship in 2017 and 2018. In both instances he was denied, and he applied again in August last year, though was rejected.
He decided to travel to France after the latest rejection.
He had also sought asylum in Switzerland and Italy. The French application was rejected last Sunday as he already had refugee status in Sweden, officials said.
Security sources and his Swedish ex-wife told AFP he was recently divorced. The prosecutor in Annecy Ms Bonnet-Mathis said he has a child around the same age as the toddlers he attacked.
Reportedly originally from the Syrian town of Al Hasake, Mr Hanoun had been training alongside his ex-wife to become a nurse, according to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.
The paper added he was convicted for illegally claiming benefits in Sweden and was handed a suspended sentence and a fine.
Mr Hanoun reportedly separated from his ex-wife eight months ago and they had not spoken in four months.
The woman identifying herself as his ex-wife told French broadcaster BFM TV he had not previously demonstrated violent tendencies.
“He does not call me for four months. [Our relationship] stopped because we lived in Sweden and he did not want to live in Sweden any more,” she said.
She added that her former partner was a Christian.
Speaking to The National, Sofia Koller, senior research analyst at the Counter Extremism Project, said: “The motivation is not clear yet.
“Some media and parts of the public are quick to judge when they see it was a foreign-looking man with a knife, and assume it was a terror attack.”
There are continuing debates and discussions in France and Europe on asylum seekers and immigration, Ms Koller said, speaking from Germany.
“So I think this attack really comes at the worst timing because the debate is quite present at the moment. So this attack might have an even higher impact on French society,” she said.
Early morning tranquillity shattered by screams
Le Paquiet park in Annecy is a usually tranquil place, popular with tourists and locals.
But on Thursday morning, as parents took their children to the playground, local schoolchildren enjoyed a trip out and joggers exercised, screams rang out as the man, armed with a knife, began his vicious attack.
Video shared online shows how the attack played out.
In the horrific scenes, the man first circled the playground, slashing at a bystander, and then clambered over its barriers to attack those inside.
He appeared to focus on children, repeatedly stabbing one in a pushchair, even returning a second time.
The man appeared to shout “in the name of Jesus Christ” as he waved his knife in the air, while people near by could be heard screaming for the police.
The man, dressed in shorts with a scarf wrapped around his head, was challenged by one bystander who used a rucksack for protection. The suspect left the playground, pursued by the witness before police arrived and shot him.
A witness who spoke to broadcaster BFM TV said he saw first responders working on “little bodies, three or four years old, perhaps”.
George, the owner of a nearby restaurant, told TV: “Mothers were crying, everybody was running.”
An ice cream seller who works in the waterside park said he had seen the attacker there several days previously, looking out at the lake ringed by mountains.
“It's a place where babysitters and parents take young children to play. I often see around 15 toddlers there in the morning, and the atmosphere is fantastic,” he said.
Former Liverpool FC footballer Anthony Le Tallec witnessed part of the attack, describing the scene in a story on Instagram.
He said he was running by the lake and saw people rushing towards him telling him to flee because there was a man attacking children with a knife.
Le Tallec said the suspect then appeared in front of him, tailed by police officers.
“He came near me, so I moved, I moved away,” he said.
“I see him go towards a grandma and a grandpa, and he attacked the grandpa.
“I said to the cops, 'Shoot him! Kill him!' He attacked once, twice and then they started to shoot him.”
Le Tallec said he continued his run along the lake and spotted the children who were injured in the attack.
“It’s unfortunate but it’s crazy to have this in Annecy,” he said.
France has been shocked by several violent incidents over the past few months, including the fatal stabbing last month of a nurse in the northern town of Reims. Also last month, a drink-driver accidentally killed three policemen.
Mr Macron has denounced what he calls a “de-civilisation process” in the country, while opposition members of parliament say his government has been too lax on law and order.
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
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Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
Mountain%20Boy
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zainab%20Shaheen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Naser%20Al%20Messabi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW
Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2
Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC
Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins
more from Janine di Giovanni
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
Brief scores:
Scotland 371-5, 50 overs (C MacLeod 140 no, K Coetzer 58, G Munsey 55)
England 365 all out, 48.5 overs (J Bairstow 105, A Hales 52; M Watt 3-55)
Result: Scotland won by six runs
