US President Donald Trump called Gaza a 'nasty place'. Reuters
US President Donald Trump called Gaza a 'nasty place'. Reuters
US President Donald Trump called Gaza a 'nasty place'. Reuters
US President Donald Trump called Gaza a 'nasty place'. Reuters

Trump acknowledges Gazans are 'starving' but defends Netanyahu


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US President Donald Trump on Friday acknowledged that Palestinians in Gaza are "starving" but defended Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israeli Prime Minister was in a "tough situation".

"Gaza is a nasty place," Mr Trump told Fox News, adding "it’s been that way for years".

Mr Trump said that "one of the three great leaders" he had met with on his trip to the Gulf this week had asked him to "please help the people, the Palestinians".

As to Mr Netanyahu, he said that it was important to remember the events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking scores hostage.

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. AP
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. AP

"It was one of the most violent days in the history of the world. He has that problem. That problem should have never happened," he said.

More than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's war in Gaza. The Israeli military began its campaign after Hamas-led militants attacked the south of Israel and killed about 1,200 people.

Mr Trump added that he has "already started working" on a solution to solve the crisis in Gaza.

Washington announced in recent days that the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation would be getting food into the enclave by the end of May. The mechanism, which was approved by the Israeli security cabinet, will have US contractors protected by the Israeli military delivering aid in certain parts of the enclave to ensure it does not fall into the hands of Hamas.

The UN and aid organisations have criticised the new plans, saying they militarise humanitarian assistance.

"One way or the other, I'll get it solved. It's either going to be done nicely or it's going to be done violently," Mr Trump said.

He added that the leaders of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar would "absolutely" need to be part of the solution to the situation in Gaza, calling the leaders of the three countries "really good people".

"We're closer now to them [the Gulf countries] than ever before," Mr Trump said. "There's a relationship that I have with all three [leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar] that's very extraordinary."

As to sanctions on Syria, Mr Trump said that he had removed the economic measures following intervention from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"I hadn't thought about it much," he said. "He [Prince Mohammed] said, 'they can't make it with those sanctions."

The US announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria during Mr Trump's trip to the Gulf, with the US President saying it was the new government in Damascus's "time to shine".

Mr Trump acknowledged the "tough past" of new Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara - a former militant leader whose Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group ousted Bashar Al Assad from power last December - but said "are you going to put a choir boy in that position?"

During the interview, Mr Trump reiterated his plans to accept a new luxury plane from Qatar to replace the current Air Force One, saying the negative reaction in the US "insulted" Emir Sheikh Tamim.

"He made a gift to help somebody that has helped them. It was so nice as a gesture," Mr Trump said.

The President said "this plane is not for me, this goes to the United States Air Force for whoever is president", adding that it would be a stand-in until Boeing produces the promised two planes for the White House.

Mr Trump also claimed during the interview that James Comey, the former director of the FBI, had called for his assassination.

Mr Comey posted a photo on Instagram that showed seashells arranged into the numbers “86 47". He wrote: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”

In American bars and restaurants, 86 is slang for denying service to or ejecting a customer. In police circles, it can be interpreted as a code for murder. Mr Trump is the 47th US President.

Mr Trump fired Mr Comey in 2017. The President said the former FBI head “knew exactly” what the numbers meant.

“A child knows what that meant. If you're the FBI director and you don't know what that meant? That meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear,” Mr Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

“Our country has become respected again … and he's calling for the assassination of the President.”

Mr Comey took the posting down and said he didn't know some people associated 86 with political violence.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said US police are investigating the alleged threat.

The Bio

Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”

Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”

Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”

Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”

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%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jared%20Stern%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Dwayne%20Johnson%2C%20Kevin%20Hart%2C%20John%20Krasinski%2C%20Keanu%20Reeves%2C%20Olivia%20Wilde%2C%20Kate%20McKinnon%2C%20Jameela%20Jamil%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.

Don't get fined

The UAE FTA requires following to be kept:

  • Records of all supplies and imports of goods and services
  • All tax invoices and tax credit notes
  • Alternative documents related to receiving goods or services
  • All tax invoices and tax credit notes
  • Alternative documents issued
  • Records of goods and services that have been disposed of or used for matters not related to business
Jawan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAtlee%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Nayanthara%2C%20Vijay%20Sethupathi%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

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FIXTURES

Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)

Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Saturday
Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Juventus (11.45pm)
Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (6pm)
SPAL v Brescia (6pm)
Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
Bologna v AC Milan (11.45pm)

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

'Munich: The Edge of War'

Director: Christian Schwochow

Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons

Rating: 3/5

'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Updated: May 17, 2025, 5:19 AM