Update: Deadly Marsa Alam shark attack casts pall over Egyptian Red Sea resort
One tourist was killed and another injured when they were attacked by a shark at an Egyptian Red Sea resort on Sunday, the country's Environment Ministry said.
The ministry said it received a report that the two foreigners were attacked by a shark – adding that the attack took place in deep water outside the designated swimming area.
They were taken to Port Ghalib Hospital, where one tourist was pronounced dead. The other is currently receiving treatment, said officials.
Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad issued an order to raise the level of preparedness and monitoring at Red Sea protectorates.
She also ordered the formation of an “urgent committee in co-ordination with the Red Sea governorate and relevant authorities to investigate the causes of the incident”.
The attack occurred despite the existence of strict instructions previously issued, banning swimming from piers in the area, the ministry said.
As a precautionary measure, the ministry announced that the attack site and surrounding areas would be closed to swimmers for two days.
Egypt's Red Sea coast, known for its pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, has long been a popular destination for tourists seeking sun, sand and diving opportunities.
The resort cities of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh attract millions of visitors annually, contributing significantly to Egypt's tourism industry. However, shark attacks, though rare, continue to be a safety concern for Red Sea tourists.
In June 2023, a Russian man was killed by a shark near Hurghada, in an attack that received widespread attention because it was filmed and shared online. A few months later, an Egyptian woman was bitten on the arm by a shark.
In 2022, two women were killed in separate shark attacks near Hurghada, while in 2020, a Ukrainian boy lost an arm and an Egyptian tour guide lost a leg in a shark attack. In 2018, a Czech tourist was killed by a shark off a Red Sea beach.
These incidents have resulted in authorities investigating the causes and implementing measures to efforts to prevent future attacks.
Experts have suggested that several factors could be contributing to shark attacks in the Red Sea, including overfishing – which can lead to a decline in shark populations, causing changes in their behaviour and distribution patterns – the depletion of natural prey species and the reduction of habitat quality.
Additionally, the discarding of food and organic matter from boats can attract sharks to areas frequented by swimmers and divers, potentially triggering attacks.
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
The years Ramadan fell in May
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
More from Aya Iskandarani
