Two members of the US National Guards were shot near the White House in Washington on Wednesday and are in a critical condition.
FBI director Kash Patel confirmed that the two soldiers had been taken to hospital after the incident at Farragut West metro station.
Washington police said that a suspect – a lone gunman - was in custody. US President Donald Trump said the suspect had been severely injured and called the incident an “act of terror”.
The man taken into custody after the daylight shooting two blocks from the White House was “a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan”, Mr Trump said, citing the Homeland Security department.
The suspect had arrived in 2021 “on those infamous flights”, he said, referring to the evacuations of Afghans fleeing as the Taliban took over the country in the wake of the US retreat under the Biden administration after 20 years of war.
In what appeared to be a threat to intensify recent anti-immigration efforts, Mr Trump gave warning of what would follow Wednesday's shooting. "We must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here... if they can't love our country we don't want them."
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey had said in a social media post that the soldiers, part of the state's National Guard, had been killed, but then later withdrew that statement.
“We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information,” he said on social media.
Mr Patel said at the scene: “As you can see behind me, we have assembled the full force of both the federal and state and local law enforcement agencies to bring to bear all of our resources to make sure we find the perpetrators responsible for this heinous act. We will run down every single lead, every piece of evidence.”
Mayor Muriel Bowser called the incident a “targeted shooting”.
“We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan” under former president Joe Biden, said Mr Trump.
“We must take all necessary measures to endure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country if they can't love our country, we don't want them,” he said.
After the shooting, Mr Trump voiced his support for the members of the National Guard posted in the city. “These are truly great people. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the office of the presidency, am with you,” he wrote on Truth Social.
A police representative said that a person had come around a corner and attacked the National Guards members, who were on patrol. Other soldiers in the area responded to the shots and were able to subdue the gunman and take him into custody.
After the shooting, The National saw one person in military fatigues taken away on a medical stretcher.
Dozens of law enforcement vehicles were on the scene. A helicopter circled above the area near the metro. A group of about 10 National Guards soldiers were near the site.
More than 2,000 members of the National Guard have been posted in Washington since the summer, on orders from the White House.
The White House has said the move was needed amid a surge in violent crime, although city officials say it has been decreasing in recent years.
The armed soldiers often patrol metro stations in pairs or small groups.
The order was originally meant to last 30 days but has been extended. A federal judge has ordered an end to the posting but the administration is appealing.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said he had requested another 500 troops to be posted in the Washington area.
“This will only stiffen our resolve. We will never back down,” Mr Hegseth said. “We will secure our capital, we will secure our cities.”
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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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
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Super heroes
Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue
Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate
Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues
Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking
Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses
Thor
He's a god
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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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
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
