Jordan’s King Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein take part in military exercise


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Jordan's King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein appeared as star commanders in a short video of a special forces exercise this weekend.

The two royals are seen shooting automatic rifles from behind barriers and exchanging offensive positions.

The video, released by local newspaper Al Ghad, was the latest public display of the two royals as on-hand commanders engaged closely in supporting the military.

The duo are alumni of Sandhurst, the same British officers academy where Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed, son of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, completed a year-long course this month.

In the video King Abdullah II and Prince Hussein are seen in military fatigues and wearing ammunition holsters with their mouths covered as a precaution against the coronavirus.

In one exercise they approach an artificial wall on foot while shooting at targets; in another, they advance in single file while taking turns firing off shots.

The location of the exercise was not made public.

The king and crown prince usually attend several military exercises a year and in 2018 Queen Rania published footage on social media of the two participating in a military drill and shooting at targets from behind a car.

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

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Second leg, February 27

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2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred

3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC  

4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.

5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.

6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security

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1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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