Two people were killed in a shooting in Auckland on Thursday, just hours before New Zealand city hosted the first Women's World Cup match.
A man armed with a shotgun opened fire at a central Auckland building site in what police called an “alarming incident”.
The gunman was found dead after a police shoot-out, during which an officer was shot and wounded. Four civilians were also injured.
The shooting happened near hotels where Team Norway and other football teams were staying.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said the gunman was a 24-year-old who had previously worked at the building site, and his motive appeared to be connected to his work there.
He had a history of family violence and was serving a home detention sentence, but had an exemption to work at the Lower Queen Street site, Mr Coster said.
The shooting began at about 7.20am, and police soon swarmed the area.
The shooter moved through the unfinished building firing at people, Mr Coster said, as many workers fled or hid. He then barricaded himself in a lift shaft on the third floor, Mr Coster said, where armed officer engaged him after securing the floors above and below.
“The offender fired at police, injuring an officer,” Mr Coster. He added that “shots were exchanged” before the gunman was found dead.
“This is a scary situation for Aucklanders on their Thursday morning commute to work,” Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said in a tweet. “Please stay at home, avoid travel into the city centre.”
The shooting on one of the busiest streets of the city centre came hours before the opening match of the ninth Women's World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland.
New Zealand Prime Minster Chris Hipkins said the Fifa tournament would go ahead as scheduled. There was heightened security at the opening game and a minute's silence was observed before the home team went on to beat Norway.
Mr Hipkins said the man was armed with a shotgun, adding that police arrived within minutes of the first emergency call and ran into harm's way to save lives.
“These kinds of situations move fast, and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic,” Mr Hipkins said.
New Zealand has tight gun laws, imposed in 2019 after the country's worst mass shooting prompted a sea change in attitudes towards guns. A shooter killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two Christchurch mosques during Friday prayers in March of that year.
The prime minister at the time, Jacinda Ardern, vowed to ban most semi-automatic weapons within a month and she succeeded, with only a single member of Parliament voting against the ban.
A subsequent buyback scheme saw gun owners hand over more than 50,000 weapons to police in exchange for cash.
Mr Coster said the shotgun used in Thursday's shooting is not on the list of banned weapons.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AIR
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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RESULTS
Welterweight
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) beat Mostafa Radi (PAL)
(Unanimous points decision)
Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
(Second round knockout)
Flyweight (female)
Manon Fiorot (FRA) beat Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
(RSC in third round)
Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
(Disqualification)
Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
(Unanimous points)
Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
(TKO first round)
Catchweight 69kg
Jung Han-gook (KOR) beat Max Lima (BRA)
(First round submission by foot-lock)
Catchweight 71kg
Usman Nurmogamedov (RUS) beat Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
(TKO round 1).
Featherweight title (5 rounds)
Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
(TKO round 1).
Lightweight title (5 rounds)
Bruno Machado (BRA) beat Mike Santiago (USA)
(RSC round 2).
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh810,000
Company%20profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
