Batikhi appointed as HCST secretary general

AMMAN (Petra) - A Royal Decree was issued on Sunday, appointing Anwar Batikhi as secretary general of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST). Batikhi, who has a doctorate in soil physics (1977), has served as president of the Hashemite University, visiting professor at the University of Florida, deputy president of the Jordan University of Science and Technology and dean of the postgraduate studies faculty at the University of Jordan, among other posts.

Conference on religion and rule of law opens this week

AMMAN (JT) - An international conference on “Religion and the Rule of Law in the Near East” will convene at the Royal scientific Society on February 27 and 28 under the patronage of HRH Prince Hassan. The conference, jointly organised by the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung aims to analyse the interaction of religion, justice and politics and focus on the principle of the rule of law. Experts, politicians, lawyers as well as representatives of international organisations from Jordan, Germany, Qatar, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Belgium and France will participate in the event. Meanwhile, Prince Hassan participated recently in a three-day conference organised by the Monaco Club on the increasing rift between Europe, the US and Middle East countries.

Foreign minister meets with Arab Knesset delegation

AMMAN (Petra) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Salah Bashir on Sunday met with a delegation of Arab members of the Israeli Knesset representing the Arab Unified List and discussed the latest regional and international developments. During the meeting, Bashir said Israeli military actions and increased settlements undermine peace efforts and have a negative impact on the peace process. He stressed the need for a joint Arab effort to use the opportunity to make peace in the region. The delegation expressed their appreciation of the government’s efforts to support the Palestinians and their just cause, particularly the assistance provided to pilgrims and facilitating the admission of Palestinian students in Jordanian universities. Also on Sunday, Bashir met with the Lower House Public Freedoms Committee. During the meeting, Minister of Political Development Kamal Nasser said the government will soon present a new draft law on public gatherings, to reinforce public freedoms and citizens’ rights.

USAID grant to finance renovation of MIMAR

MADABA (JT) - USAID on Sunday awarded a JD57,633 grant to the Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration (MIMAR) to finance the renovation of its educational and visitor facilities such as revamping the entrance area, improving signage, defining visitor paths and improving the ticketing process and security.MIMAR, previously the Madaba Mosaic School, was upgraded from a secondary school into an accredited institute by the USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project in cooperation with the Department of Antiquities, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Higher Education.

Jordanian press denounces reprinting of Danish cartoons

AMMAN (JT) - Around 21 local daily and weekly newspapers on Sunday said they decided to publish a unified statement in protest against the reprinting of a cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammad in 17 Danish newspapers. In a statement issued yesterday, the newspapers said their response will be professional and objective and constitutes the first step in a major media campaign which will include a series of articles and editorials. The campaign aims to highlight that the republication of the cartoons is an unaccepted and unjustified insult to Islam and has nothing to do with the freedom of the press, the statement said. The statement called on all Jordanian, Arab and Islamic media outlets, as well as journalists, to join the campaign, which emphasises Jordan’s historic role in defending Islam and Prophet Mohammad.