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Jordan’s king restricts ‘delusional’ Prince Hamzah’s movement, communications

Jordan’s King Abdullah issued a decree Thursday restricting the movement, place of residence and communications of his half-brother Prince Hamzah.
The king issued the royal decree after approving a recommendation submitted to him on December 23 by a council formed under the Royal Family Law, state news agency Petra reported.
The king explained his decision, saying that when Prince Hamzah’s actions of “sedition” emerged, he decided to handle the matter within the family in the hope that Prince Hamzah “would come to his senses.”
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“However, after a year and a half, he [failed] to do so… and I [unfortunately] realized that he will not change his ways,” King Abdullah said in a letter. “I realized he [suffers from] a delusion where he sees himself as the guardian of our Hashemite legacy and where he believes that [he is the victim] of a systematic campaign [launched against him] by our institutions.”
The king also noted that Prince Hamzah’s remarks and actions “reflected his denial of the reality he lives” and showed that he rejects to bear responsibility for his actions.
In April 2021, Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi said Prince Hamzah had attempted to mobilize local officials for actions intended to harm Jordan's security.
Prince Hamzah apologized in March in a letter to the king over the attempt, saying he bears the responsibility for any mistakes made against the king and the country and for the consequences of his actions which pertain to “sedition.”
“My brother, Hamzah, continues to ignore all the facts and conclusive evidence,” the king also said, adding that Prince Hamzah manipulated facts “to back his fake account” of events.
“Unfortunately, my brother truly believes his claims,” he added.
King Abdullah also described Prince Hamzah’s actions as “irresponsible” actions that aim to sow unrest, noting that even though Prince Hamzah had pledged to quit these actions, he soon “returned to the path he’s adopted for years.”
“He puts his interests above the country’s interests… and plays the role of the victim.”
The king revealed that he had been patient and tolerant for years in the hope that Prince Hamzah would one day “mature” and contribute to serving the people of Jordan and protecting the country and its interests.
Prince Hamzah continued to suspect everyone around him while justifying his inability to serve the country by claiming he was “targeted,” King Abdullah said.
The king also revealed that he received complaints from army commanders and soldiers saying that Prince Hamzah arrogantly dealt with them and that he attempted to “raise doubts about the professionalism of the Armed Forces.”
Acknowledging that he’s well-aware of the country's challenges, King Abdullah said he welcomes constructive criticism. But, “these challenges cannot be resolved through actions that attempt to exploit the economic circumstances to spread despair.”
Commenting on Prince Hamzah’s absence during the funeral of their uncle, Prince Mohammed bin Talal, in April, King Abdullah said Prince Hamzah refused to attend the funeral to “strengthen the idea that he’s the victim.”
The king also said that Prince Hamzah ignored the advice of members of the royal family to amend his ways, adding that a private letter that Prince Hamzah sent him on January 15 “misrepresented facts… and ignored everything that does not harmonize with his version of events.”
“He ignored what has been exposed about his suspicious relations and communications with Bassem Awadallah as well as Hassan bin Zaid who sought assistance from foreign embassies to inquire about the possibility of supporting him in case a change in governance happens,” the king said, adding that Prince Hamzah was well-aware of bin Zaid’s actions.
Awadallah, who once served as a top adviser to the king, and bin Zaid, a member of the royal family, were found guilty of sedition and incitement in July 2021 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
After Prince Hamzah sent him the letter in January, the king also explained that he responded to the letter and later met with him to present “a roadmap to rebuild trust.”
“I was optimistic when he decided to acknowledge what he has done, and he sent me a letter [in March] apologizing to the nation and me.”
However, it was only weeks before Prince Hamzah “proved his ill intentions, as he went back to playing the role of the victim,” the king said, adding that Prince Hamzah did not leave his residence for an entire month and issued a statement relinquishing his royal title even though he’s well-aware that granting and relinquishing titles is the king’s jurisdiction.
Prince Hamzah also sent a private letter to the king asking him to allow him to keep the “financial and logistical privileges” of his title during the next phase.
The king noted that he would not allow anyone – not even his brother – to put his interests above the country’s interests.
“Hence, I have decided to approve the council’s recommendation,” he said, adding that he had been patient about approving it because he wanted to give Prince Hamzah a chance to review his actions.
“Considering his destructive behavior, I will not be surprised if he issues abusive statements. However, we will not waste time to respond to him as I [firmly believe] he will continue to [act upon] his misleading [version of events] for the rest of his life.”
“Prince Hamzah will remain in his palace in accordance with the council’s decision and in order to guarantee that he will not repeat his irresponsible actions – actions which will be dealt with shall he repeats them,” the king added.
Read more:

Court in Jordan upholds convictions of sedition against royal court officials

US raises concerns about treatment of ex-Jordanian official Bassem Awadallah

Jordan coup plot accused want Prince Hamzah to testify: Lawyer

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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