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AMMAN — Director General of National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Nizar Haddad on Tuesday welcomed a delegation comprising a number of experts from the Italian Institute for University Cooperation as part of the European Neighbourhood Instrument Cross-Border Cooperation “Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme” project, with the participation of seven countries around the world.

Haddad said that this visit is a “preliminary step” to discussing cooperation opportunities between the two parties to promote joint collaboration in relevant fields, according to a NARC statement. 

AMMAN — While working as a teaching assistant in the architecture department at the Applied Sciences Private University, a young Jordanian realised that many students lack critical thinking and creativity skills.

This observation inspired Wala Zmeili to create ArchKids in 2017, an enrichment programme focused on architecture and design.

Zmeili was one of several entrepreneurs from around the Kingdom to meet with His Majesty King Abdullah last week. During the meeting, His Majesty reaffirmed his keenness to support young Jordanians’ innovative projects, heard from the entrepreneurs and voiced pride in their achievements.

Zmeili said that the King “showed us how much he cares about our projects”, adding that she was impressed by how attentively he listened to each entrepreneur and even wrote notes as they were speaking. 

The young Jordanian started off with JD80 and created a programme that she pitched to a school. She said that after hosting the programme during a winter session, the results were “impressive”, and the principal, teachers, students and parents liked it. The success of this trial run made her want to expand. 

She now has two architects who work with her on a freelance basis, and the programme now offers courses in five different schools and at several centres. 

The programme has reached around 300 students so far, Zmeili said, adding that her goal is to expand it to be a part of a national art curriculum offered in all schools in Jordan and even across the region. 

She noted that many government schools across the region “do not currently have structured art curriculums”, which she said are important for students in developing critical skills.

In order to develop her own teaching skills to better serve her students, Zmeili began working as an art teacher in various schools. She explained that her courses are interactive and not based solely on memorisation, helping students learn more effectively. 

Architecture is a multidisciplinary field, combining subjects including math, science and history, and can help students learn multiple skills early on, she said, adding: “It’s fun, but at the same time, they’re learning a lot of things.” 

The founder begins classes by engaging students in activities that encourage them to think critically; for example, a discussion on why a particular architect may have designed a specific structure a certain way or a brainstorm session on how something can be done. This way, she says, students begin to conceptualise material on their own, and also begin to understand how to create a plan. 

Additionally, since the architectural and design processes in different regions around the world are influenced by and rely on the varying natural resources and materials available in those areas, learning about various structures from across the globe allows students to appreciate a myriad of cultures, she explained. 

Her courses also touch on sustainable and green architecture and teaching students how to best utilise and preserve natural resources. 

“They will improve their skills, and at the same time, they will become more open-minded.”

AMMAN — Jordan on Tuesday condemned Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

Ambassador Daifallah Fayez, spokesperson for the ministry, said that Israeli escalation in Gaza and the targeting of innocent civilians would only contribute to increasing tension, violence and establishing an environment of despair. 

Israeli violations will lead to the spread of extremist agendas in the region, and will not contribute to a solution, added the official. 

Creating a conducive political environment towards resuming Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and lifting the unjust blockade on Gaza is the solution for the strip’s problems, said Fayez, as he called for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the respect of International Law. 

The official held Israel responsible for the repercussions of the escalation, and called on the international community to take immediate action against Israeli aggression, as well as provide protection for the Palestinian people. 

AMMAN — Tourism revenues increased by 9.4 per cent at the end of October 2019, reaching $4.9 billion (approximately JD3.5 billion), according to preliminary data released by the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) on Tuesday.

The CBJ said in a statement, carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the increase was mainly driven by a 7.7-per cent rise in the total number of tourists to the Kingdom, who totalled 4.5 million  compared with the same period last year.

The CBJ figures showed that the tourism sector during October 2019 generated $458.4 million (some JD325 million) indicating an increase of 13.4 per cent in comparison with the same period in 2018.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said that the number of total tourist arrivals to the Kingdom during October 2019 increased by 15 per cent, and in Petra alone rose by 43 per cent, in Jerash 64 per cent, Wadi Rum 44 per cent, Madaba 41 per cent, the Baptism Site 33 per cent and Mount Nebo 24 per cent, Petra added.

In January, the ministry expected the sector to continue to achieve more gains, marked by a continuous rise in performance indicators.

The ministry noted that it is moving forward in tandem with the Royal directives and the government’s support towards boosting tourism in the Kingdom.

According to ministry figures from January, the number of travel and tourism offices in the Kingdom stood at 904, and the number of tourist restaurants reached around 990, while the number of workers in the tourism sector amounted to 88,000.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, visited Baqura on Monday.

King Abdullah was received by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti and a number of senior army officers, according to Royal Court statement.

His Majesty was briefed on the historical, geographic, and strategic importance of the area.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a September 2018 Amman Juvenile Court ruling sentencing a minor to three years at a juvenile centre after convicting him of robbing and murdering his neighbour in March 2016.

The defendant was convicted by the Amman Juvenile Court of complicity in robbing and murdering his neighbour on March 30 upon the request of his friend, and was handed a 12-year sentence at a juvenile correctional facility.

However, the minor’s verdict was reduced to three years after the victim’s family dropped charges against him, and following several appeals by the defendant at the Appeals Court, “which decided that it was in the best interest of the boy’s life to have his sentence reduced”.

Court documents said that the defendant and the second defendant, his adult neighbour and the victim’s nephew, had been friends since 2014.

“The defendant’s neighbour complained that the victim would often interfere in their lives and was the cause of his father divorcing his mother,” court papers said.

The neighbour, who did not appeal his verdict, asked his minor friend “to help him kill his aunt to get rid of her and he agreed”, according to court documents.

On the day of the murder, court documents stated, the defendants grabbed sharp objects and monitored the victim.

“The victim went to the garage of her building carrying a bag with JD37,500 and $1,400 in cash,” court papers said.

The two jumped on her and “the minor held the victim while the second defendant stabbed her repeatedly on her chest”, court papers said.

The defendants then carried her body back to her apartment and left after splitting the cash, according to court documents.

The two were arrested by authorities shortly after the victim’s body was discovered, the court papers added.

The Amman Juvenile Court prosecutor asked the higher court to uphold the sentence against the defendant.

The defendant contested the court’s ruling through his court lawyer, arguing that he “never confessed to killing the victim or being a complicit to the murder and robbery”.

The lawyer also charged that the court did not follow the proper legal procedures and there were no social workers accompanying the defendant on the first day of his questioning.

Also, the lawyer argued that when the defendant reenacted “the alleged crime, neither his father nor any of his male guardians were present”.

The lawyer also argued that the prosecutor failed to present “any solid evidence that would implicate his client with the charges”.

However, the higher court ruled that the Amman Juvenile Court had followed the proper procedures and that the defendant deserved the verdict he received.

The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zu’bi, Saeed Mugheid, Majid Azab and Nayef Samarat.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Monday agreed to finance a electronic tracking bracelet project to reduce the number of detainees at rehabilitation and reform centres.

The project, an alternative for detention and imprisonment, aims at reducing costs incurred under the budget of the Public Security Department, which stands at JD750 a month per inmate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The necessary funds for the project will be allocated from the PSD’s 2020 budget. 

Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni said that the electronic bracelet is a device used by the judiciary to avoid detaining people suspected for misdemeanours at rehabilitation and reform centres.  

Talhouni added that the bracelet is a “modern device” and an alternative for detention in “less dangerous” cases that do not affect the security of society, according to Petra.

The minister noted that bracelets will help detainees avoid mixing with convicts, adding that they can help defendants continue their daily lives normally without losing their jobs.  

He added that if a defendant tries to remove the bracelet, it will send a signal to the PSD’s command and control centre, which will notify the nearest patrol of their location. Attempts by defendants to remove the bracelet deprive them of the chance to use it later, the minister stressed.  

 “We are trying to offer alternative solutions to give people a second chance, so we have introduced new methods to rehabilitate people and help them merge with their communities, and the electronic bracelet is one of these solutions,” Talhouni told The Jordan Times.

AMMAN — Unstable weather conditions are forecast for Wednesday with a chance of light showers around the Kingdom, which could turn into thunderstorms at night, especially in eastern areas of Jordan, Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) Director Muhammad Momani said on Monday in a press statement. 

Also on Wednesday, the JMD forecast south-easterly moderate to brisk winds, which could raise dust, especially in badia areas. 

On Thursday, Momani said that the Kingdom is expected to remain under the effects of the unstable weather conditions, while temperatures are expected to be moderate and relatively hot in the Jordan Valley and Aqaba. 

Light showers and thunderstorms are forecast around the Kingdom on Thursday as well, Momani said, warning of the formation of torrents in low areas. 

The department cautioned citizens of the dangers of slippery roads in areas that might witness thunderstorms, asking them to steer clear of low areas that collect water and beware of low visibility in Badia areas. 

Temperatures in Amman on Wednesday are forecast to reach a high of 28°C during the day and a low of 17°C at night, according to the JMD. On Thursday, temperatures are forecast to range between 27°C and 14°C.

In Zarqa, temperatures are expected to see a high of 30°C during the day and a low of 18°C at night on Wednesday, according to the department’s weather forecast, which also predicts that temperatures will range between 28°C and 15°C in the governorate on Thursday. 

In Aqaba, temperatures are forecast between 35°C and 23°C on Wednesday and between 35°C and 22°C on Thursday, according to the JMD. 

AMMAN — The Jordanian initiative INSAN (the Arabic word for human) on Saturday was chosen as one of the best 15 Arab initiatives that participated in the Arab Forum for Voluntary and Humanitarian Youth Initiatives. 

INSAN was among 120 initiatives to compete in the forum, which was held in Kuwait, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Monday.

The event was held under the patronage of Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Mohammed Bin Nasser Al Jabri, with the participation of 16 Arab countries.

The initiative aims at supporting orphans and refugees, integrating them into communities and enrolling children at schools, Malek Jumayan, the founder of the initiative, said. 

Jumayan noted that the number of beneficiaries from the initiative has reached 2,000 over the past few years, adding that INSAN has received the attention of the international community for its contribution to ensuring the right to education.  

A total of 620 initiatives had applied to participate in the forum, 310 of which were accepted, while 120 initiatives, including three from Jordan, were shortlisted for the top 15 to win the forum's awards.

AMMAN — The Jordan Investment Commission (JIC) has opened an office in Kuwait to coordinate expatriate Jordanian investors’ affairs, according to the JIC.

JIC Chairman Khaled Wazani, during the opening of the Kuwait-held Conference for Expatriate Jordanian Businessmen and Investors, expressed the Kingdom's readiness to attract revenue-generating investments that recruit Jordanians, presenting the “promising” available investment opportunities, according to a JIC statement on Monday.

Lauding the JIC’s efforts to stimulate investment, Jordan’s Ambassador to Kuwait Saqer Abu Shattal voiced the embassy's readiness to cooperate in this arena.

Introducing the Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF), chairperson Khloud Sakkaf reviewed the fund's success stories in vital sectors, expressing keenness to enter strategic partnerships in quality projects established in the Kingdom. 

Sakkaf also drew attention to the importance of localising expatriate investments and highlighted expatriate businesspeople role in attracting foreign investments to the Kingdom, according to SSIF statement.  

Addressing the gathering, Nayef Bakhit, chief commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, presented major investment opportunities in Aqaba, highlighting the “competitive edge” offered by the authority.

Maan Development Company CEO Hussein Kreishan also drew attention to Maan development zone, highlighting potential investments in the fields of solar and wind energy. 

On the sidelines of the investment gathering, Wazani and the accompanying delegation discussed with Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Khaled Roudan means of enhancing the two countries’ cooperation in the economic and investment fields.

The Jordanian delegation also met Kuwait Investment Authority's Executive Director Bader Ajeel, who expressed intentions to visit the Kingdom to explore potential investment opportunities.

These activities, including efforts pursued to introduce the advantages of the Kingdom's economic sector, fall within a promotional tour organised by Kuwait’s and Saudi Arabia's investment commissions in cooperation with the JIC to promote Jordan's investment environment, which are taking place from November 10 to 14.