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New Jordanian prime minister takes office amid virus spike, struggling economy

Bisher Al Khasawneh's government will also oversee the Nov. 10 elections in the country.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh poses as he arrives for the Mideast peace conference in Paris on January 15, 2017.
Foreign ministers and representatives from around 70 countries are seeking to revive the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which could be dealt a further blow if Trump implements a campaign pledge to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. / AFP / POOL / bertrand GUAY        (Photo credit should read BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images)

King Abdullah II of Jordan has appointed a new prime minister. The head of government will focus on combating a massive increase in COVID-19 cases and addressing the struggling economy in the Hashemite Kingdom.

Bisher Al Khasawneh took the oath of office on Monday, the state-run Jordan Times reported. Kasawneh will also serve as minister of defense and some members of his cabinet were sworn in by the king the same day. Other ministers, including Minister of State-designate Mahmoud Kharabsheh, will be sworn in at a later time due to their contraction of the coronavirus, according to the outlet.

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