An interesting editorial in today’s Al Rai highlighted the story of government employee, Mohammad Nsour, who turned down a JD50,000 bribe delivered to him in a suitcase - mafia style. The employee helped authorities in capturing the bribers in the end. But weeks passed after the incident and not a single official called the employee […]

To begin with, last week, it was revealed that Israel had revoked the Jerusalem residency rights of over 4,500 Palestinians in 2008, mainly because it claimed that they had been absent from the city for more than the allowed seven years (had this happened anywhere else in the world, we would’ve called it ethnic cleansing). […]

Ammon and Khaberni are already reporting this, (it’s on the AFP wire), but it seems Parliamentary elections, as expected, have been delayed. The Lower House of Parliament was dissolved a few days back by the King, in anticipation of new elections for a new parliament, to be scheduled within four months. Constitutionally, elections are allowed […]

Al Jazeera English recently aired its Arab Street program on Amman. It’s interesting to watch and listen to the views of average Jordanians as Al Jazeera poses various questions to them. The questions are, naturally, the usual suspects. Israel. Palestine. Israel. Palestine. Israel. Israel. Israel. Iraq. Iraq. Iraq. Oil. Water. Nuclear technology. Tourism. Honor crimes. […]

AP Photo - A Jordanian driver removes the Parliament plates of the car of one of the Jordanian lawmakers at the Jordanian Parliament offices in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

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It’s the political news of the week, perhaps even the year here in Jordan, and it has come as a surprise to most. HM King Abdullah’s decision to dissolve the Lower House of Parliament and call for early elections is a move that few anticipated. At least in any realistic context. Criticism of the […]

Reading an interesting article in TIME today, I found myself thinking in broader terms when I came upon this excerpt:
In his 2008 book, Inside Egypt, John R. Bradley observes, “Egyptians are the most patriotic people in the Arab world.” But, he adds, “I have never come across a local who does not despise his president […]

Around 100 university students gathered on Saturday to review political reforms and means to improve their participation in civic activities. In a national conference on youth and political reforms organised by Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Centre yesterday, Jordanian students from four private universities presented their visions and suggestions for political reform. Inaugurating the conference, […]