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JERASH — The people of Jerash have voiced their condemnation of the stabbing attack against eight people, including four tourists and four Jordanians in Jerash on Wednesday. They described the attack as “heinous, sinful and vile”, saying that it “does not correspond to the local community's norms and teachings”.

On Wednesday, security agencies reported that a man injured eight people in a random stabbing outside the Roman City of Jerash, some 45 kilometres north of Amman.

Among the injured are four tourists, including three Mexicans and a Swiss national. The condition of one of the Mexican tourists and a Jordanian, who is a tour guide, remains critical, and they were transferred to the King Hussein Medical Centre via helicopter.

The eight victims were initially rushed to the Jerash Public Hospital. Health Minister Saad Jaber, the Mexican ambassador, the northern region police director and director of the Jerash Public Hospital checked on the injured.

A driver and a tour guide were among the injured, and a number of other tour guides were eyewitnesses to the stabbing. They also helped in the arrest of the assailant.

"The assailant was stopped by a police officer, a guide and a driver," an eyewitness, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Jordan Times.

"All the locals who were at the scene participated in stopping him from attacking more people," the eyewitness added.

"He tried to enter the ancient site, however, people ran after him and forced him back, where he was stopped by the police officer, guide and driver who had been stabbed," he explained.

"This stranger attacked everyone in his way from Hadrian's Gate to the Philadelphia Gate. Tourists, a policeman and brother Zaher [a guide] were injured," tour guide Nader Habaybeh, who joined in chasing the assailant, told The Jordan Times.

"The nightmare ended after more policemen pounded him, stripped him of the knife and cleaver and arrested him," Habaybeh added.

Members of the local community in Jerash issued a statement condemning the attack, describing it as "an act of cowardice".

On social media, residents of Jerash expressed disapproval of such an attack against innocent people.

"This coward will not affect the security of our country," a resident commented on a post with the assailant's photo on Facebook.

Sources at the Public Security Department said that the suspect has been identified and arrested. They added that an investigation is under way.

AMMAN — Eight people, including four tourists and four Jordanians, were injured on Wednesday after they were stabbed by a man in Jerash, according to authorities.

The injured tourists include three Mexicans and a Swiss national. The condition of one of the Mexican tourists and a Jordanian, who is a tour guide, remains critical, and they were transferred to the King Hussein Medical Centre via helicopter, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The eight victims were initially transferred to the Jerash Public Hospital. Health Minister Saad Jaber, the Mexican ambassador, the northern region police director and director of the Jerash Public Hospital checked on the injured.

Sources at the Public Security Department said that the suspect has been identified and arrested. They added that an investigation is under way.

AMMAN — Five Jordanian women entrepreneurs recently won an award for the Best Technology Project at the US-held TechWomen programme for their mobile application Sanad, designed to support young people suffering from mental health issues in Jordan. 

The five entrepreneurs Mais Khader, Mais Al Muhtaseb, Hanan Khalil, Esraa Alsanie and Reema Diab, received the seed-grant prize funded by Google, VMware and Okta, Inc after they were selected from among 3,260 women in technology from around the world, they told The Jordan Times on Sunday.

Participants chosen from 21 countries joined in the Silicon Valley in San Francisco at the end of September for the programme. 

"Sanad is going to change the stereotypical way people view mental health treatment, giving better focus to addressing mental health issues in the upcoming few months," the entrepreneurs said over WhatsApp from Washington, DC, where they received the award. 

In the Sanad application, chats are encrypted and private, which gives young people the opportunity to speak freely with psychiatrists and therapists, fully protecting the patients' information and secrecy, according to Alsanie, founder of EnvaTechs, who was also chosen by the programme as one of the most influential women in the field of technology. 

Sanad is also the first app programmed in Arabic to have content raising awareness on mental health issues, Alsanie added.

"The app allows the patients to use it anonymously, protecting the secrecy of their identities and issues, receiving the help they need without having to physically go to a clinic and face any stigma from society," said Diab, who won an award for one of the best women in the technology sector from the Miracle Foundation in the US.

Diab is founder and CEO of Galaxy Organisation, an NGO that seeks to empower women and youth through technology.

She was also listed as a top entrepreneur in Berlin, Germany, with an MA in business management from the US and a BSc in accounting from the University of Jordan, and she is currently pursuing her PhD in the UK, in the field of managing global organisations. 

Khalil is an associate professor of neurological physical therapy in the faculty of applied medical sciences at the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

She said that Sanad will integrate artificial intelligence, through which “the experience will become more personal and familiar for users”. 

For her part, Khader, who obtained her BA in industrial engineering from the University of Jordan and works as a data analyst, said the app will include a hotline for mental health-related emergencies.

Al Muhtaseb, who obtained her BSc in Computer Engineering from Yarmouk University, said the application also offers remote learning services, which, with the help of organisations that work in the field of mental health and education, could provide workshops for students and societies. 

"We aim to reach the largest possible number of schools to spread awareness about the app and how it can be used step by step, while also deconstructing the stigma associated with mental illness," Al Muhtaseb, who works as a software engineer, said. 

In 2018, suicide rates in Jordan increased by about 10 per cent; Jordan has been identified as a country in massive need of a “stronger mental health system”, according to the TechWomen website.

The Sanad mobile application will focus on education, support and interaction with the aid of its features, including educational videos, interactive learning games, articles from influencers and success stories and testimonials from previous patients. 

The app also features audio-video conferencing to facilitate chatting with professional counsellors and sending push notifications for tips and advice, the website adds.

In 2017 as well, the Jordanian team participating in the TechWomen 17 programme won the same prize for a project called “Orphans in Jordan”, which focuses on the low percentage of orphans going to university due to psychological and financial problems.

TechWomen is an initiative of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

It is held annually to empower, connect and support the next generation of female leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by providing them with access and opportunity to advance their careers, pursue their dreams and become role models for other women and girls in their communities, according to the organisation’s website.

AMMAN — Jordan on Tuesday welcomed the power-sharing deal  signed in Riyadh between the internationally recognised Yemeni government and the southern separatists, brokered by Saudi Arabia to end the conflict. 

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi hailed the deal as an "important step" towards ending the conflict, safeguarding Yemen’s unity and opening the doors to a political resolution to the crisis, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

Safadi voiced Jordan’s appreciation for Saudi Arabia and the UAE for their role in inking the agreement.

Safadi underlined the Kingdom’s “full support” to all efforts seeking resolve Yemen's conflict and end the large-scale suffering of its people. 

AMMAN — HRH Princess Raiyah Bint Al Hussein and Faris Ned Donovan were engaged on Saturday, according to a Royal Court statement.

The Royal Court extended its sincere congratulations to Princess Raiyah and to Donovan on this occasion.

Princess Raiyah, born in Amman in 1986, is the daughter of His Majesty the late King Hussein and Her Majesty Queen Noor.

She holds an undergraduate master’s degree in Japanese studies from Edinburgh University in Scotland, a master’s degree in Japanese literature from Columbia University in New York, and is currently a PhD candidate in pre-modern Japanese literature at UCLA.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah met with representatives and leading figures from the Ajarmeh tribe, as part of the Basman Forum meetings launched on Tuesday at the Royal Hashemite Court.

During the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, King Abdullah welcomed the attendees, commending all Jordanian tribes for standing by the homeland, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty expressed optimism in the future, noting that the country is actively moving forward, the statement said.

The King pointed out that the Jordanian economy is improving, which requires efforts by the government to attract investments with the aim of creating employment opportunities for young people, stressing the need to empower and qualify youth for entry into the labour market.

His Majesty also underscored the importance of coordination and cooperation between various government agencies to facilitate investments, according to the statement.

The King noted the need for citizens to sense the positive impact of the package of measures announced by the government to stimulate economic growth and incentivise investment.

His Majesty added that he has directed the government to implement a number of projects to improve the living standards of Jordanians, the statement said.

For their part, the attendees expressed appreciation for the King’s ongoing outreach to citizens to hear their concerns, noting Jordanians’ unity behind His Majesty in safeguarding the nation’s achievements and highlighting their pride in the armed forces and security agencies.

Representatives of the Ajarmeh tribe also praised the King’s position in defending the Palestinian cause and safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, in line with the Hashemite Custodianship, commending His Majesty’s efforts towards regional security and stability, the statement said.

 Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Al Khasawneh, Adviser to His Majesty for Policies and Media Kamal Al Nasser, Adviser to His Majesty for Tribal Affairs Saad Hayel Srour, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, Interior Minister Salameh Hammad, and Amman Governor Saad Shihab attended the meeting, held as part of the Basman Forum meetings to maintain outreach to the public.

Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz met with the Ajarmeh tribe representatives and spoke about domestic concerns and the package of measures announced by the government to stimulate the economy, noting that they will reflect positively on citizens’ living standards soon.

The prime minister also listened to the attendees’ concerns and said the government will look into them.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld an April Criminal Court's decision to sentence two men to death and another man to 20 years in prison after convicting them of murdering two men to arevge the killing of their sibling in Karak Governorate in November 2017.

The Criminal Court convicted them of shooting and killing the two men with machine guns in the town of Hasa on November 13. 

Court documents said that a few months before the incident, the victims’ brother had murdered the sibling of the defendants, and they decided to avenge his death.

On the day of the incident, the court maintained, the defendants spotted the victims in a market, returned home, armed themselves and followed them.

“The defendants drove some 25 kilometres behind the victims’ vehicle and when they approached them they opened fire from their weapons,” court papers said.

The two victims were struck with 15 bullets on different parts of their bodies, court papers added.

“The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, but were declared dead on arrival,” court papers said.

Meanwhile, the defendants sped away from the area and were later arrested by the police, according to court documents.

The prosecution office at the Criminal Court asked the higher court to uphold the ruling stating that the verdict was correct and in accordance with the law and proper procedures.

The defendants contested the verdicts through their lawyer, arguing that the Criminal Court depended on contradictory statements of the witnesses.

The defendants also argued that the court failed to examine thoroughly the evidence provided by the defence.

However, the Cassation Court ruled that the Criminal Court’s judgement fell within the law, that the proceedings were proper and that the sentences given were satisfactory.

“The defendants confessed freely and willingly to the murder incident and therefore they deserve the sentences they received,” the Court of Cassation said.

The Court of Cassation tribunal comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Bassem Mubeidin, Naji Zu’bi and Majid Azab. 

AMMAN — Energy Minister Hala Zawati on Tuesday participated in the 13th session of the Arab Ministerial Council of Electricity, held at the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo. 

During the meeting, participants highlighted the importance of the joint Arab electricity market and its institutional framework, according to an Energy Ministry statement.  

Attendees discussed the creation of a platform to expedite energy trade in the Arab region and support the production of electrical equipment. 

On the sidelines of the meeting, Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) signed a memorandum of understanding and two agreements for the framing of cooperation and implementation of a project to connect the Jordanian, Egyptian and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) grids, the statement said. 

Zawati represented Jordan in signing the agreement; Egypt was represented by its Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohammad Shukri and Sheikh Nawaf Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa signed on behalf of the GCC in his capacity as executive director of the GCCIA. 

Studies have confirmed the project’s economic and technical feasibility, Zawati said, pointing to the importance of expanding the current grid connection project between Arab Gulf countries, Jordan and Egypt.

The minister underlined the project’s social and economic importance in enhancing the stability of the Arab electrical system and achieving integration in the field. 

The project is vital to the joint Arab electricity market, which is founded on the concept of operating competitive electrical systems that serve all Arab countries, rectifying fluctuation and decreasing the frequency of programmed power outages, the statement said.

AMMAN — Seeking to restore faith in schools, Sonbola initiative has executed “successful” projects in 100 public schools in Jordan and is targetting 300 other schools in its second phase, according to the initiative’s director. 

“A country’s development begins with the development of its schools,” Arafat Awad told The Jordan Times on Tuesday, noting that the initiative targets public schools in the northern, central and southern regions of the Kingdom. 

He added that Sonbola, which included 93 girls’ and 10 boys’ schools in its first phase, is supported by the Al Hussein Fund for Excellence, which has been supporting and funding ideas and projects since 1999. 

The initiative urges teachers and students to write down the challenges they face and come up with innovative ideas to overcome them, the director said.

Launched by Aljude Organisation in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Sonbola provides each project with JD100 to execute the ideas, Awad said.

He added that the local community has also contributed to the projects by providing support to their neighbouring schools, which has encouraged social solidarity.

To express its gratitude, the organisation will celebrate and honour the teachers with the best 40 projects on November 17, the director said. 

Awad added that Sonbola is “a leading business virus”, spreading positive effects on students, teachers, schools and the local community.

For his part, Aljude Director General Maher Kaddoura said that the organisation aims at reinforcing the idea of practical innovation to solve daily problems.

Sonbola’s persistence was “the way to its success”, the director general said, expressing his pride in the organisation’s accomplishments which are “drops in the ocean” of Jordan’s achievements.

“We should be writing our own stories with our accomplishments, rather than observing or criticising the challenges facing us along the way,” Kaddoura said. 

AMMAN — Abu Dhabi Art dives underwater, explores the changing landscape of the surrounding desert, steps inside an ancient fort and engages young and old to present its 11th edition at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the UAE capital from November 21-23.

The fair will offer a programme of exhibitions, art installations, talks, workshops and performances delivered by leading international artists, curators and creative professionals, in addition to a roster of public programming, according to a statement.

Organised by Abu Dhabi’s department of culture and tourism, the fair aims to “extend the local art conversation beyond the UAE” and “platform local artists to connect with international counterparts, to feed into the local art ecosystem”, Abu Dhabi Art Director Dyala Nusseibeh told The Jordan Times in a phone interview on Tuesday.

The event will draw in both works and spectators from across the globe, featuring 50 exhibits, half of them from outside the UAE, including eight from the region. It showcases the art of India and contemporary works of the “new generation” of artists in China, and expects to see “top patrons and collectors” visiting from India, Russia, China and Oceana among others, the director said.

“Art is an interesting way to bridge cultures,” she mused, adding that Abu Dhabi Art will take visitors across the capital, from the community space Manarat Al Saadiyat hosting the main exhibits, to pop-up pieces and artist commissions at UNESCO World Heritage Site Al Ain Oasis and historic fortresses, among other spaces.

“I try to bring people to these locally relevant places to give them insight into the area,” Nusseibeh said. 

Al Jahili Fort, an ancient fortress located in Al Ain, is the site for British artist Oliver Beer’s commission piece under the annual “Beyond” series, in which he collaborates with 1,000 local schoolchildren, who color in and reinterpret drawings of Alladin, which the artist then compiles into an animation, according to Nusseibeh. 

Beer is also teaming up with a second 1,000-strong cohort of school-aged artists to reinterpret a series of paintings housed in Abu Dhabi’s Louvre Museum, creating a similar animation.

The second Beyond commission piece, “The Heart of Water” is set against the background of Al Ain Oasis’ palm trees, date farms and ancient “falaj” water system used to irrigate the desert. Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich is creating a palm-frond structure containing a sculpture representing the clouds, which carry the rain that falls on the oasis.

The “Beyond” series this year also includes works by three emerging artists, mentored by curators.  Among them is Ayesha Hadir, whose “other-worldly” creations involve submerging fabric works along the capital’s shoreline, and allowing the gulf waters to play a part in the artistic process, the director said.

These emerging artists, the director explained, gave talks during the year for the next generation of artists at the local Zayed University, elaborating on challenges they have faced, the process of entering the art “conversation” after university and how they tackle their work. 

“Art belongs to the next generation,” Nusseibeh said, noting the importance of engaging a wide spectrum of talents and specialties in the artistic process. 

“We have had an artist in residency this year at Khalifa University of Technology, bringing different people into the art conversation, and helping technology students to think creatively, and artists to think technologically,” she added.

Abu Dhabi art has also engaged university students by awarding a prize to three local architecture students, whose Pavilion design will be recreated at the fair. 

The event will also offer spectators, from families to ministers to global guests, the chance to experience the performing arts, such as recitations by UAE poets, and view exhibitions formed from old and new artwork in collaboration with local museums. 

“We give a sense of place,” Nusseibeh said.