Jordan's King Abdullah II succeeded his father, the late King Hussein, in 1999. AFP
Jordan's King Abdullah II succeeded his father, the late King Hussein, in 1999. AFP
Jordan's King Abdullah II succeeded his father, the late King Hussein, in 1999. AFP
Jordan's King Abdullah II succeeded his father, the late King Hussein, in 1999. AFP

Jordan's King Abdullah II forms committee to modernise political system


Khaled Yacoub Oweis
  • English
  • Arabic

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Thursday said he is seeking qualitative changes to the kingdom’s political system amid socio-economic turmoil.

The country has been ruled by the Hashemite monarchy for the past 100 years.

The king formed a mostly loyalist committee to come up with proposals for political reform centred on the 130-member parliament, which has little power in Jordan.

Last week, a tribal political figure called on his followers to challenge the monarch’s authority, prompting the largely pro-government parliament to remove him.

“We are intent on making a qualitative jump in the political and parliamentarian life,” the king said in a letter to the committee’s chairman, former prime minister Samir Al Rifai.

According to the royal court, the committee will be made up of 92 members, led by Mr Rifai.

Jordan is in a recession and unemployment is officially at a record 24 per cent. The government said last year it had increased the social assistance budget as more people sought support.

Several independent committees were formed to submit proposals for political reform since the king succeeded his father, the late King Hussein, in 1999. These were established mostly in times of political and economic uncertainty.

Power is concentrated with the king. Parliament, which is dominated by tribes, is a forum for government-sanctioned criticism. Jordan's tribes are also a main component of the security forces and largely employed by the state, as opposed to the private sector.

Jordan's King Abdullah II attends a military parade to mark the kingodm's centenary. Courtesy Royal Hashemite Court
Jordan's King Abdullah II attends a military parade to mark the kingodm's centenary. Courtesy Royal Hashemite Court

The king said the committee’s mission was to “modernise the political system” and come up with proposals for a new election law for the legislature.

Parliamentary seats are largely allocated to outlaying electoral districts that have relatively small populations.

The king instructed the committee to “give recommendations on modernising legislation that governs local government and enlarge the base of participation in decision-making”.

He did not give details but said he wanted to see a parliament based on blocs “with programmes” and progress “in the way the executive branch exercise its powers”.

On Monday, the monarch ordered an end to the current session of the sitting parliament.

The ruling came a day after parliament removed Osama Al Ajarmeh, a tribal deputy from the urban and agricultural region of Naour, south of Amman.

In a street address to his followers last week, Mr Al Ajarmeh made disparaging remarks about the king and called on his supporters to disobey the monarch.

At the end of April, the king released 16 tribe members from other regions who the authorities implied were involved in sedition.

The 16 were linked to Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, a half-brother of the king, who had sought to court the tribes.

__________

King Abdullah attends JAF ceremony

  • King Abdullah II, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, accompanied by Crown Prince Hussein, attends a’ ceremony to mark the state’s centennial. All photos courtesy Royal Hashemite Court
    King Abdullah II, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, accompanied by Crown Prince Hussein, attends a’ ceremony to mark the state’s centennial. All photos courtesy Royal Hashemite Court
  • King Abdullah was received at Al Rayah Parade Ground, located at the Royal Hashemite Court, by Crown Prince Hussein and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Maj Gen Yousef Hneiti.
    King Abdullah was received at Al Rayah Parade Ground, located at the Royal Hashemite Court, by Crown Prince Hussein and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Maj Gen Yousef Hneiti.
  • The ceremony coincides with Accession to the Throne Day, Army Day and the Great Arab Revolt anniversary.
    The ceremony coincides with Accession to the Throne Day, Army Day and the Great Arab Revolt anniversary.
  • Representatives from armies and security agencies of friendly countries with ties to Jordan through military co-operation and joint training, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Palestine, the UK, France, and Pakistan, participated.
    Representatives from armies and security agencies of friendly countries with ties to Jordan through military co-operation and joint training, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Palestine, the UK, France, and Pakistan, participated.
  • A drill squad performs at the JAF and security agencies’ ceremony marking Jordan's centennial.
    A drill squad performs at the JAF and security agencies’ ceremony marking Jordan's centennial.
  • A parachutist flies the Jordanian flag at the centennial ceremony.
    A parachutist flies the Jordanian flag at the centennial ceremony.
  • Put your best foot forward ... a military band on parade at the celebrations.
    Put your best foot forward ... a military band on parade at the celebrations.
  • A mounted unit at the ceremony at Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court.
    A mounted unit at the ceremony at Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court.
  • King Abdullah II at the JAF and security agencies’ ceremony.
    King Abdullah II at the JAF and security agencies’ ceremony.
  • King Abdullah II takes the salute at the celebratory march past.
    King Abdullah II takes the salute at the celebratory march past.
  • The 2nd Al Hussein Mechanised Battalion receives the Great Arab Revolt flag from the 9th Prince Mohammed Mechanised Battalion.
    The 2nd Al Hussein Mechanised Battalion receives the Great Arab Revolt flag from the 9th Prince Mohammed Mechanised Battalion.
  • Airborne Jordanian flags accompany King Abdullah as he crosses the parade ground.
    Airborne Jordanian flags accompany King Abdullah as he crosses the parade ground.
  • King Abdullah bestows the Order of the State Centennial on the Jordan Armed Forces, the Public Security Directorate, the General Intelligence Department, and several army and security personnel, in addition to Royal medals on JAF and security officers.
    King Abdullah bestows the Order of the State Centennial on the Jordan Armed Forces, the Public Security Directorate, the General Intelligence Department, and several army and security personnel, in addition to Royal medals on JAF and security officers.
  • Salute and march past at the parade to mark Jordan's centennial.
    Salute and march past at the parade to mark Jordan's centennial.

__________

A large proportion of Jordan’s tribes declared their allegiance to the Hashemites when King Abdullah I, the great grandfather of the current king, founded what would become the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with British support in the early 1920s.

The tribes are concentrated mainly in the centre and south of Jordan. But a large proportion of the country’s population of 10 million people is of Palestinian origin.

The kingdom's Palestinian populations are mostly concentrated in urban areas in northern and central Jordan. Most of their ancestors fled the conflict that erupted after the creation of Israel in 1948 and during the 1967 war.

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Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

Company info

Company name: Entrupy 

Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist

Based: New York, New York

Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.  

Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius. 

Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place. 

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

While you're here
Race card

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m

F1 drivers' standings

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281

2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247

3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222

4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177

5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138

6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93

7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86

8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 290hp

Torque: 340Nm

Price: Dh155,800

On sale: now

SPAIN SQUAD

Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)

Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)

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Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

Match info:

Burnley 0

Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')

Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)

Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)

Results
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog

Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates

Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.

Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.

Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.

Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile 

Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran

Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm

Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km

Price: From Dh796,600

On sale: now

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo

Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic

Power: 242bhp

Torque: 370Nm

Price: Dh136,814

The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar

CONCRETE COWBOY

Directed by: Ricky Staub

Starring: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome

3.5/5 stars

UAE%20FIXTURES
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

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