Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Wadea Al Fayoume, a Palestinian American boy, was a happy child who loved going to school and playing football.
The six-year-old's life ended on Saturday when a man fatally stabbed him and wounded his mother with a military-style knife in their Chicago home.
Wadea died at the scene. His mother, Hanaan Shaheen, 32, is in hospital in critical condition.
Police said the alleged killer, their landlord Joseph Czuba, attacked the family because they are Muslim, and in response to the Israel-Gaza war.
“This came out of nowhere, nobody saw it coming,” Yousef Hannon, a close family friend and a former schoolteacher, who Wadea affectionately referred to as his uncle, told The National.
“It's very, very, very devastating. As Palestinians, we feel very unsafe right now."
Dozens of Palestinian and Arab Americans took part in Wadea's funeral's on Monday at a mosque in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.
Those attending, many of them wearing Palestinian keffiyehs, held solemn noon prayers before going to the cemetery where a burial ceremony was held.
"The events in Gaza have affected the world, it's not just between two countries," Odey Al Fayoume, Wadea's father, said at a media conference before the funeral. "My son is a martyr."
Mr Al Fayoume said he hoped his son's death could help the conflict to be resolved.
According to the sheriff’s office, Mr Czuba, 71, has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crimes and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Police said Wadea was stabbed 26 times while his mother was stabbed 12 times with a serrated knife. Mr Czuba was due to appear in court on Monday.
“Detectives were able to determine that both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the continuing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis,” the Will County Sheriff's Office said.
The killing comes amid rising Islamophobic and anti-Arab sentiment being felt across the US. Jewish people have also reported an increase in hateful rhetoric since the war began.
Israel has been bombarding the Gaza Strip since October 7, when Hamas gunmen attacked parts of southern Israel, killing about 1,400 people and taking about 200 others hostage.
More than 2,750 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes.
The conflict is expected to escalate further as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, drawing concerns of a humanitarian crisis in the enclave and a widening conflict in the region.
Major US cities, including Chicago – home to the largest Palestinian community in the country – have been on high alert, with police saying they would increase patrols, especially around synagogues, mosques and other areas frequented by Muslims and Jews.
Arab-American groups say they have been receiving rising reports of Islamophobic and anti-Arab attacks and harassment.
"This heinous crime did not take place in a vacuum," Osama Abuirshaid, executive director of American Muslims for Palestine, said in a media conference on Monday.
"Over the past 10 days, Palestinians, Arabs and Muslim Americans have been subjected to a hateful, hostile campaign."
US President Joe Biden said he was “shocked and sickened” to learn of the attack.
“The child’s Palestinian Muslim family came to America seeking what we all seek – a refuge to live, learn, and pray in peace,” he said.
“This horrific act of hate has no place in America.”
Mr Hannon said Mr Al Fayoume is the son of Palestinian refugees from Ramla in Israel, and had lived in Jordan.
Ms Shaheen is from Al Bireh, in the occupied West Bank. The couple have relatives in Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza.
“They came to the US 12 years ago seeking a better life,” Mr Hannon said. “They were establishing a foot here, and they lived a simple, happy life.”
He said the parents had just applied for a passport for their son to travel to the West Bank and Jordan so he could meet his grandparents and relatives for the first time.
“We have been described as animals, savages and terrorists – but we are none of those things,” Mr Hannon said.
“We are here as citizens and we are adding to the society.
“We feel like we have been left behind and that we don't belong anywhere any more.”
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5.55am: Wheelchair Marathon Elites
6am: Marathon Elites
7am: Marathon Masses
9am: 10Km Road Race
11am: 4Km Fun Run
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Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Calls
Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillian, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
4/5
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
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
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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
