Jordan’s security forces shot and killed a gunman in the capital Amman in an exchange of fire on Sunday morning near the Israeli embassy in the Rabieh neighbourhood, witnesses said, amid rising domestic pressure on the authorities related to the Gaza war.
Government spokesman Mohammad Al Momani said a man with a criminal record used an automatic weapon to commit "terrorist aggression" against "men of General Security".
"The stability of Jordan and its security is a red line," said Mr Al Momani, who has the rank of minister. He said the three wounded security personnel were receiving treatment in hospital.
One witness, who helped the police track the gunman and did not want to be named, said the attacker drove into Rabieh, western Amman, with a car bearing the logo of a food delivery company. The gunman started hooting at one of many security patrols in the area and he was seen with an AK-47 automatic rifle, they said. Reinforcements were called in he was killed two hours later.
"Security men ran after him in one street and gunned him down," the witness told The National, adding that an ambulance took the body to the city's Al Bashir Hospital.
Another witness, who is a teacher living adjacent to the embassy, said she and her family were woken at 2.30am by the sound of the gunfire.
"We went to balcony to see what was going on and the police shouted at us to go inside," she said. Security forces searched the neighbourhood before sound of gunfire echoed in the area again, she added.
"They brought in armoured vehicles and officers into the buildings to see security camera footage," she said.
The police earlier said the man, who has not been identified, "started firing gunshots at the security force, which in turn applied the rules of engagement, which resulted in the killing of the perpetrator”.
Security forces have had to fire tear gas to disperse anti-Israel protests in Rabieh after some demonstrators tried to break through the security cordons around the Israeli embassy. Authorities have limited the scope of protests in the area and prevented any prolonged sit-ins. Demonstrations are also banned in areas near western interests and along the border with Israel.
King Abdullah II and his government have strongly criticised Israel's war conduct in Gaza and repeatedly called for a ceasefire but more than a year of war in the Palestinian enclave has led to frustration with the official policy of honouring Jordan's 1994 peace treaty with Israel, which obliges the two sides to prevent threats to each other's security. The kingdom also has a defence pact with the US, Israel's main ally, on which it depends for financial and military assistance.
Officials say no one has supported the Palestinian cause more than Jordan, highlighting the kingdom's role in preserving Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, through a custodianship that traces its roots to the king's great grandfather.
At least one senior official of Hamas, the Iran-backed militant group now fighting for survival in Gaza, has called on Jordanian tribes to attack Israel. Infiltration attempts into Israel from Jordan have increased this year, although most have failed. Last month, Israeli forces shot dead two members of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood who tried to mount a cross-border raid near the Dead Sea.
Descendants of Palestinian refugees comprise a large proportion of Jordan's 11 million population, made up mainly of the tribes that lived there before it was established as the British Protectorate of Transjordan in 1921. Pro-Palestinian sentiment runs high among the two components of the population.
There has been uninterrupted stability since the ousting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation from Jordan in a civil war in 1970.
A military official said in a statement on Thursday that troops stationed on Jordan's northern border foiled two infiltration attempts in the past 24 hours, killing one infiltrator and arresting six others. The official did not give details of their identity or the specific locations of the incidents.
The kingdom's northern border with Syria is a main passageway for the smuggling of drugs and weapons sourced from Syria and Lebanon, and trafficked to Jordan and other Arab states. Jordanian security forces often clash with smugglers in the area.
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
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Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
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Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
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7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
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Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
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Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
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Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
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What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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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
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
World Mental Health Day
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
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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