Jordanian prime minister Omar Razzaz has reshuffled his cabinet in a bid to turn around the country’s economic woes, creating a new ministry to boost entrepreneurship and give citizens job skills for the digital age.
The reshuffle announced late on Thursday was the third change to Mr Razzaz's government in less than a year.
“Our message behind this reshuffle is that we recognise that economic conditions are currently the greatest challenge facing Jordanians and we are taking all steps possible to alleviate economic burdens and spur economic and social development,” said Jumana Ghunaimat, minister of state for media affairs and government spokeswoman.
The new Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Digital Economy is intended to bring together incubators, investors and young entrepreneurs and to eliminate red tape. It will also help Jordanians gain skills in the IT sector, particularly those living outside the capital, the government said.
The ministry will be headed by Muthana Gharaibeh, formerly head of the ICT ministry that was scrapped in the reshuffle.
Meanwhile, a new Ministry of Local Administration, replacing the ministry of municipal affairs, will continue the kingdom's decentralisation project to increase citizens’ participation in decision-making in their communities. The ministry will link up recently formed local and provincial councils with municipalities and will provide training and funds to the new bodies, Ms Ghunaimat said.
Walid Masri, formerly minister of municipal affairs, will head the new ministry.
The shake-up brought in six new ministers and saw the dismissal of five ministers. The ministers of labour, interior, planning and international co-operation, and health were replaced while the position of minister of state for investment affairs was scrapped.
Most notably, Salameh Hammad has returned to the cabinet as interior minister. He has held the position four times from 1993-1995, 1995-96, 2015-16 and 2016-17. He is known for defusing tensions between the state and local communities and is a respected figure among Jordan’s tribes.
Most recently, Mr Hammad in 2016 restored calm to the restive southern city of Maan, ending a year-long withdrawal of police forces from the city following a series of violent confrontations between citizens and security forces.
Mohammad Eses, who until recently was an economic adviser to King Abdullah, was appointed minister of planning and international co-operation and minister of state for economic affairs.
Jordan's unemployment rate is 18.6 per cent, with about 400,000 jobless Jordanians across the country. According to government statistics released last month, 15.7 per cent of Jordanians, or about some 1 million people, live below the poverty line.
Appointed in June last year following nationwide protests over austerity measures and taxes, Mr Razzaz, a former World Bank official, has struggled to balance IMF requirements to cut public debt while providing a safety net for vulnerable Jordanians.
Adding to Jordan’s worries is the impending announcement of a US plan for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Jordan has privately voiced reservations over what has been leaked about the deal, particularly the status of Palestinian statehood, Palestinian refugees and Jerusalem, where the Hashemite royal family retains custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites.
With Jordan home to 3 million Palestinian refugees and historic links to Jerusalem, observers and insiders say the government is preparing for potential nationwide protests after the unveiling of the deal, tentatively set for June.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Company%20profile
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Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
Zayed Sustainability Prize
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
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Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
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The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
