Jordan's King Abdullah at a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in May, in Amman. AP
Jordan's King Abdullah at a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in May, in Amman. AP
Jordan's King Abdullah at a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in May, in Amman. AP
Jordan's King Abdullah at a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in May, in Amman. AP

Jordan's king calls for 'modernisation' of political system


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  • Arabic

Jordan’s King Abdullah has told the government to pursue political “modernisation”, as proposed constitutional changes leave significant powers in the country with the monarch.

Jordan is in an economic downturn and the authorities intensified a crackdown on dissent this year. Last month, a royal committee appointed by the monarch developed political reform proposals.

The Hashemite Royal Court said in a statement that King Abdullah met Prime Minister Bisher Al Khasawneh and members of the cabinet on Wednesday and urged them to implement the recommendations of the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System.

The recommendations include a new election law that allows some candidates to run for parliament across districts, if they belong to political parties.

The 130-member legislature mostly has ceremonial powers. It is dominated by tribes who benefit from the current electoral system.

King Abdullah, who has reigned since 1999, appoints and dismisses governments, commands the military and controls foreign policy.

Government spokesman Faisal Al Shboul told state television on Wednesday that the cabinet had submitted a draft election law to parliament, in line with the committee’s recommendations.

The law, he said, would bring Jordan into “a new legislative and executive era”.

Following other recommendations by the committee, a draft of proposed constitutional changes expected to be submitted to parliament commits the state to protect women “from all forms of violence and discrimination”.

The draft was published on Wednesday by Ammon News.

The changes would also prevent parliamentarians from holding ministerial positions or having contracts with the state, and lower the minimum age to run for parliament to 25 from 30.

But the proposed amendments make it harder for parliament to convene a vote of confidence in the government, requiring a motion for a vote to be approved by 25 per cent of members, instead of the current 7 per cent.

A new National Security Council is planned, which would be headed by the king, under the new proposals.

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Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

Specs
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Company profile

Company name: Dharma

Date started: 2018

Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: TravelTech

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs

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Director: Sriram Raghavan

Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18

Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan

Rating: 3.5/5

Top 5 concerns globally:

1. Unemployment

2. Spread of infectious diseases

3. Fiscal crises

4. Cyber attacks

5. Profound social instability

Top 5 concerns in the Mena region

1. Energy price shock

2. Fiscal crises

3. Spread of infectious diseases

4. Unmanageable inflation

5. Cyber attacks

Source: World Economic Foundation

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

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Matthew Weiner,
Canongate 

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While you're here
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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Director: James Cameron

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Rating: 4.5/5

Updated: November 18, 2021, 1:47 PM