On a summer weekend in 1951, Jordan’s King Abdullah I made a routine trip from Amman to Jerusalem to pray at Al Aqsa mosque when he was shot dead at the entrance of the building.
The prayer was being broadcast live and the shots fired at the royal by a trainee tailor, 21, echoed across the airwaves.
Most of Old Jerusalem in the eastern part of the city was under Jordan’s control at the time, and the assassin was tried and executed. Jordan later lost East Jerusalem, along with the West Bank, to Israel in the 1967 war.
The king was the first ruler of modern Jordan and great-grandfather to the current monarch, King Abdullah II, who inherited power in 1999 from his father, King Hussein.
Their Hashemite family, which traces its lineage to the Prophet Mohammed, came from Hejaz in Arabia.
The motive was never fully established for King Abdullah’s assassination.
The killing occurred three years after the establishment of Israel, when the first wave of Palestinian refugees crossed to Jordan.
Many players in the Middle East may have wanted to eliminate the man whose ambitions extended beyond Jordan to a larger kingdom over Greater Syria.
This vision could be traced back to his father, Sharif Hussein of Makkah, who had sought territorial unity in the Middle East.
While King Abdullah’s political scheme was not realised, his assassination at the gates of Al Aqsa, one of Islam’s holiest sites, reinforced a link between the Hashemites and the mosque.
But the ties date back to the time when Palestinian religious leaders gave Sharif Hussein custodianship over Al Aqsa in 1924.
The trusteeship bolstered the political influence of the monarchy as Jordanians of Palestinian origin grew to constitute a large proportion of the kingdom’s 10 million people.
“Al Aqsa was placed in the trust of the Hashemites because they were regarded as having means of support in face of an imminent danger,” says Azzam Khatib, director of the Jerusalem Waqf, or religious endowments.
That danger was the Zionist expansion into Palestine.
“The Hashemites had the power to preserve this trust: politically and physically. They raised money to renovate Al Aqsa,” said Mr Azzam by telephone from Jerusalem.
He termed the custodianship hereditary, reinforced by the Hashemite relationship to the Prophet.
“The Hashemites have stayed the course since 1924,” said Mr Azzam.
But safeguarding Al Aqsa has been challenged by Israel’s lurch to the right in the last two decades, manifested by various actions at the compound housing the mosque.
Muslims call the compound Haram Al Sharif.
A visit to the compound in the year 2000 by Ariel Sharon, Israel’s opposition leader at the time and later prime minister, was partly responsible for the second Palestinian intifada.
More instances of wider violence have occurred in subsequent years because of what Palestinians and many Arabs regarded as Israeli intransigence linked to Al Aqsa.
Israeli far-right provocations
One of the most recent was a visit to the compound by Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister.
It was one of Mr Ben-Gvir’s first public actions since he became a member of the new, far-right government that took office in Israel on December 29, 2022.
Jordan condemned the visit as a “scandalous” breach of international law.
The kingdom called on Israel, as the occupying power, to preserve the status quo at the compound and respect Jordan’s custodianship of the site, which includes its management.
Israel does not explicitly acknowledge Jordan's custodianship, nor is the role directly mentioned in the 1994 Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty.
The treaty says Israel “respects the present special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Muslim Holy shrines in Jerusalem” and that Jordan has a “historic role in these shrines”.
The Jordanian position, however, is accepted and supported internationally. It received a further diplomatic boost at a UN Security Council meeting in January.
UN Assistant Secretary General Khaled Khiari said at the meeting that all parties should “uphold the status quo, in line with the special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”.
Beyond protecting the Al Aqsa, some in Palestine wanted Sharif Hussein to become the Muslim caliph as the Ottoman Empire was being dismantled.
The British and other Arab leaders thwarted Sharif Hussein’s drive for a wider Arab federation. Baathists and other Arab leftists, also became hostile to the Hashemites, particularly in Syria.
When Sharif Hussein raised money to renovate Al Aqsa, contributions came from across the Arab Middle East, and from as far as India, but not from Syria.
He died in Amman in 1930 and was buried next to Al Aqsa.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
- Winner: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
- Winner: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
- Winner: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
- Winner: Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
- Winner: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain / now Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
- Winner: Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa → Chelsea / England national team)
Men’s Coach of the Year
- Winner: Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
- Winner: Sarina Wiegman (England)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
The five pillars of Islam
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Results
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47
2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time
3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo
5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates
7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03
9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
More coverage from the Future Forum
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
SPEC%20SHEET
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Company%20Profile
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Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
