Jordan's Prime Minister Omar Al Razzaz and Minister of State for Media Affairs Jumana Ghunaimat arrive for their news conference in Amman. Reuters
Jordan's Prime Minister Omar Al Razzaz and Minister of State for Media Affairs Jumana Ghunaimat arrive for their news conference in Amman. Reuters

Jordan minister prompts Israeli protests after stepping on flag



Israel has formally complained to Jordan after one of its government ministers was pictured stepping on the Israeli flag as she paid a visit to a trade union in Amman.

Jumana Ghunaimat, the minister for media affairs and communications, who also serves as a government spokesperson, entered the front entrance of the Jordanian trade union headquarters.

On the floor of the entrance lies an Israeli Star of David, with footprints painted over it to allow visitors to step on the flag as a form of protest against Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Jordan has held official diplomatic ties since 1994 when the two signed a peace treaty to normalise relations.

Israel summoned Jordan’s ambassador in Tel Aviv to the Foreign Ministry to explain the minister’s actions. It also complained to the Jordanian government in Amman.

At home, Ms Ghunaimat was lauded for her decision to enter the meeting and step on the flag.

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But Prime Minister Omar Razzaz was criticised in local media after he entered the building via a side entrance in a move aimed at avoiding flaring tensions with Israel.

Activists also shouted at him during his speech at the headquarters, accusing him of siding with Israel and supporting “the Zionist entity”.

The normalisation of relations with Israel remains an unpopular government policy among many Jordanians because of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem after taking the territories from Jordan in the 1968 Arab-Israeli War.

Jordan was also angered by the US decision to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in May at the request of Israel’s hard-right government.

In an apparent response to domestic pressure to rail against Israel, Jordan’s King Abdullah announced last month that he would not renew a 25-year lease Jordan had granted for Israel to use two small agricultural areas on Jordanian soil. They will be returned to Jordanian control within a year.

Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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'Skin'

Dir: Guy Nattiv

Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT

Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000

Engine: 6.4-litre V8

Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km

Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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If you go

The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at. 
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.   

Types of fraud

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.

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.

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.

SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

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.

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.

* Nada El Sawy

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Company%20profile
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The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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