Commuters and families are hurriedly rushing to catch their trains, unaware that a suspected terrorist has hidden a rucksack near one of the ticket machines.
The wires and bomb paraphernalia protruding from the side are the only clue that this might not be just another item of forgotten luggage in one of Britain’s busy railway stations.
But after a counter-terrorism protocol known as Hot (Hidden Obviously Typical) is put into play – Is the item hidden? Is it obviously suspicious? Would such an item typically be found in this location? – the police are called and move the public 100 metres or more away from the rucksack.
It is a staged exercise as part of a training programme by the Counter Terrorism Policing team for members of the public. With people beginning to move around again more freely in towns and cities as lockdown measures ease in coming weeks, police want them to be more vigilant when out and about.
The UK has been the target of a number of terror attacks in recent years, from the two at London Bridge to the Manchester Arena bombings, resulting in dozens of deaths.
Consequently, the police have created an online training course on which people take part in various exercises such as learning how to identify threats from terrorists acting suspiciously or going on reconnaissance missions to knife, firearm and bombing incidents.
Videos take participants through the different scenarios and are encouraged to click on potentially dangerous situations.
Examples range from a terrorist in a hospital where numerous security measures have not been taken, to a person acting suspiciously in a hotel and hazards hidden at a train station.
In one of the modules, a witness from the 2015 terror attack in Tunisia explains how she and her mother survived using the counter-terrorism training she had previously had. Thirty-eight people, including 30 British citizens, did not live through the incident in which Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire on holidaymakers on the beach in Port El Kantaoui, about 10km north of the city of Sousse.
The woman, who is not named, said her run-and-hide training led her to tell people to get off the beach and head to the hotel, where she urged them to go to their rooms.
In all, more than 500,000 people have become so-called CT Citizens through the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) e-learning course that was launched two years ago. During lockdown, more than 700,000 people have completed the 45-minute programme, many from their kitchen tables.
Deputy assistant commissioner Lucy D’Orsi, the national policing lead for protective security, said that an incredible number had answered the call.
“We wanted to encourage more people to take the course and become CT Citizens as it can easily be done when you are working remotely, but the enthusiastic response has been even better than we had hoped,” she said.
“With everything people have had to cope with over the past couple of months, we are delighted that they want to continue supporting Counter Terrorism Policing and play their part in keeping all communities safe.
“And it is so important that they do, because as we start to move towards the easing of lockdown and the return of busy centres of activity, we need to remind everyone that the threat from terrorism has not gone away.
“Having more people with a basic level of awareness, and who know what to do if they see suspicious activity, is a real asset to the police.”
The interactive course, which is available to companies or private citizens, can be done all at once or in short modules.
It explains how to spot the signs of suspicious behaviour and what to do to help yourself, others and the emergency workers if an attack should take place.
To log on and learn, visit https://ct.highfieldelearning.com/
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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.
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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.
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Display: 10.4-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits, toughened glass
CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD
Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio
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Platform: Android 11
Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics
Durability: IP52
Biometrics: Face unlock
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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.
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JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
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Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)
Saturday
Brescia v Torino (6pm)
Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)
Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)
Sunday
Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)
Udinese v SPAL (6pm)
Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)
Lazio v Lecce (6pm)
Parma v Roma (9pm)
Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)
MATCH INFO
Pakistan 106-8 (20 ovs)
Iftikhar 45, Richardson 3-18
Australia 109-0 (11.5 ovs)
Warner 48 no, Finch 52 no
Australia win series 2-0
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
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Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Key facilities
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
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- Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
- Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
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- Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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