Authorities in Jordan have arrested a former right-hand man of King Abdullah, who played a major role in developing the country’s economic policy, as well as a junior member of the royal family.
The men were reportedly detained on security grounds.
Initial reports that Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, a son of the late King Hussein by his fourth wife Queen Noor, had also been detained were not true, the Jordanian military high command and government media outlets said.
Claims that have been published about his highness prince Hamzah having being arrested are not true
The official Petra news agency announced the arrests of Bassem Awadallah, royal family member Sharif Hassan Ben Zaid and other unnamed figures for "security-related" reasons.
Mr Awadallah was once a key player in drawing up the country's economic policy and served as chief of the Royal Hashemite Court until stepping down in 2008.
An investment banker by profession, he was seen as a capable economist, rising to the position of economic adviser to the prime minister in the 1990s, after obtaining a PhD from the London School of Economics.
Cabinet positions soon followed, including Minister of Planning and International Cooperation in 2001 and Minister of Finance in 2005, before he took on advisory roles with the royal court.
Prince Hamzah arrest reports denied
Meanwhile, Prince Hamzah said in a video recording he was under house arrest and had been told to stay at home and not contact anyone.
Speaking in English in the video, passed by his lawyer to the BBC, he said he was not part of any foreign conspiracy and described the ruling system as corrupt.
"[Jordan's] well-being has been put second by a ruling system that has decided that its personal interests, financial interests, that its corruption is more important than the lives and dignity and future of the ten million people who live here," he said.
But Army Chief of Staff Yousef Huneiti said "claims that have been published about his highness Prince Hamzah having been arrested are not true."
Maj Gen Huneiti said Prince Hamzah had been asked to “stop movements and activities that are employed to target the security of Jordan and its stability”.
"Investigations are ongoing and the outcome will be announced with all due transparency," he said.
"All measures have been taken according to the law, and no one is above the law. Jordan’s security is above all considerations."
Arrests of top officials and royal family members are rare in Jordan.
Regional support
Saudi Arabia was quick to issue a statement of support for the Jordanian government, emphasising that it would "stand by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and give its full support with all its capabilities for all decisions and measures taken by King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein and His Highness Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, Crown Prince, to maintain security and stability".
The UAE highlighted its "full solidarity" with the kingdom as well as support for decisions taken by King Abdullah and Prince Hussein "to preserve the security and stability of Jordan and defuse every attempt to influence them".
"The UAE affirms that the security and stability of Jordan is an integral part of its security," the statement carried by Wam said, quoting the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
The US State Department said King Abdullah was a "key partner" of the United States and "has our full support".
State Department spokesman Ned Price said: "We are closely following the reports and in touch with Jordanian officials. King Abdullah is a key partner of the United States, and he has our full support."
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also voiced his support for the king and "his measures to maintain security and stability in brotherly Jordan, and defuse every attempt to influence them," state news agency BNA reported.
The Gulf Cooperation Council's secretary general said in a statement on Saturday that the GCC stands with Jordan and all its measures to maintain its security and stability.
Qatar also issued a statement of support for "all the decisions and measures" taken by King Abdullah to maintain peace and stability in Jordan.
Egypt voiced its support to King Abdullah “to maintain the security and stability of the kingdom against any attempts to undermine it”, the presidency spokesman said on Facebook
Lebanon's prime minister-designate Saad Hariri expressed his solidarity with King Abdullah in protecting Jordan's security.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Oppenheimer
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristopher%20Nolan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECillian%20Murphy%2C%20Emily%20Blunt%2C%20Robert%20Downey%20Jr%2C%20Florence%20Pugh%2C%20Matt%20Damon%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
MATCH INFO
Schalke 0
Werder Bremen 1 (Bittencourt 32')
Man of the match Leonardo Bittencourt (Werder Bremen)
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
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
%3Cp%3EThe%20Punishment%20of%20Luxury%3Cbr%3EOMD%3Cbr%3E100%25%20Records%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Background: Chemical Weapons
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.
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
Stamp%20duty%20timeline
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