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AMMAN — Deputising for Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, Minister of Culture and Youth Mohammad Abu Rumman on Thursday attended the funeral of Jordanian poet and author Amjad Naser, who passed away on Wednesday.

Abu Rumman conveyed the premier’s condolences to the family of the deceased, highlighting his “stature and contributions to the Jordanian and Arab cultural scene”, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. Naser received the State Appreciation and Encouragement Award in the field of literature, in addition to various Arab medals and awards.

AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti on Thursday met with Kuwaiti military attaché in Amman Brig. Gen. Mashal Fleiteh over means to enhance bilateral cooperation in a way that serves both armies' interests, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — Indian investments in the Kingdom provide added value to the national economy, in addition to creating jobs for Jordanians across the Kingdom, Jordan Investment Commission (JIC) Chairman Khaled Wazani said on Thursday.

Wazani’s remarks were made during his meeting with India's Ambassador to Jordan Anwar Haleem, according to a JIC statement. Wazani went over the commission's role in improving investment, highlighting the newly launched service "voice of the investor", designated to ensure effective communication with businesspeople.

Talks also covered the government's recent decisions to improve the Kingdom's investment climate. Expressing appreciation for the JIC's efforts made to support Indian investors, the envoy said that a number of Indian companies are looking for investment opportunities in Jordan, adding that promotional activities to introduce the potential businesses will be held during the upcoming days, in cooperation with the commission.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday held talks with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah in Kuwait on bilateral relations and the latest regional developments.

During the talks, attended by Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the two leaders expressed pride in the deep-rooted, brotherly ties between Jordan and Kuwait, as well as their keenness to expand cooperation in various fields, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The two sides stressed the importance of maintaining cooperation and coordination on issues of mutual concern in the best interest of the two peoples and in service of Arab and Islamic causes.

King Abdullah wished Sheikh Sabah good health and well-being, and the people of Kuwait continued prosperity and progress, the statement said.

His Majesty expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s ongoing support to Jordan, commending the position of Sheikh Sabah on regional issues and his efforts to promote peace and joint Arab action.

During the talks, attended by senior officials on both sides, the King reaffirmed Jordan’s support for the security of Gulf Arab countries, as the national security of Jordan and Arab Gulf countries is one, the statement said.

 For his part, Sheikh Sabah commended the Kingdom’s role, under His Majesty’s leadership, in supporting Arab causes, promoting regional peace and enhancing stability in the region.

 Additionally, discussions covered regional issues, the foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, with the King stressing the need to support the Palestinians as they seek their just and legitimate rights to establish their independent state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution, according to the statement. 

Later on Wednesday, His Majesty returned home after a visit to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

AMMAN — The water share per capita in Jordan has declined remarkably over the past decades to reach less than 100 cubic metres per year, one of the lowest levels worldwide, said Zarqa Miyahuna Director Jiryes Dababneh. 

Delivering a lecture on Tuesday titled “Water resources in Jordan”, which was held during a two-day scientific forum, Dababneh said that Jordan mainly relies on rainwater that varies in volume from year to year, as downpour has gone down by 20 per cent in the past few decades, according to a statement from the Jordan Water Company, Miyahuna. 

The Kingdom has 15 surface water basins, 12 ground water basins and 3,211 wells, the director noted, adding that the main reasons for the water problem include regional crises and the influx of large numbers of refugees, which have exacerbated the water crisis and placed immense pressure on the Kingdom’s resources, the statement said.  

The director noted that water demand in the northern governorates of the Kingdom, those nearest to Syria, are 40 per cent higher than other regions as a result of hosting Syrian refugees. 

Drinking water reaches 94 per cent of the Kingdom’s population as a result of efforts exerted by the Ministry of Water and affiliated institutions in facing water challenges, Dababneh said, noting that sanitation services are provided to some 75 per cent of water subscribers, according to the statement. 

AMMAN — Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) President Hamdi Tabbaa on Wednesday lauded "solid" Amman-Doha ties, which have "great" potential for economic cooperation.

Speaking during a meeting of the Jordanian-Qatari Business Council, Tabbaa briefed the gathering on new investment projects in the fields of services, trade and industry.

Qatari investments in the Kingdom's energy, real estate and banking sectors have reached $2 billion, while Qatar’s investments in the Amman Stock Exchange total $1.1 billion, to take the third place among Arab countries investing in Amman’s bourse, he said, adding that Qatar owns a total of 183 securities and some 383 shares.

The Jordanian-Qatari trade balance has tilted in the Kingdom's favour, reaching $29 million in 2018, he said, adding that trade exchange between Amman and Doha improved in 2018 in comparison with 2017, reaching $263 million.

During the Doha-held gathering, Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani praised "deep rooted" Amman-Doha ties, commending the two countries' private sector cooperation, the Jordan news Agency, Petra, reported.

Jordanian Ambassador to Qatar Zeid Lozi affirmed that Jordanian-Qatari trade exchange has increased by 18 per cent to reach 1.3 million Qatari riyals in 2018, while 175 Jordanian companies entered into Qatari partnerships during the first nine months of 2019.

Lozi also went over the government's stimulus package, announced this week, to encourage investment and improve the national economy, drawing attention to the government's decision to reduce registration fees and ownership transfers of apartments and land by 50 per cent.

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday announced that the Jordanian Ambassador to Tel Aviv has arrived in Jordan to discuss Israel's prolonged detention of Jordanians Heba Labadi and Abdulrahman Meri.

The ambassador was recalled in protest against the detention of Labadi and Meri.

“The ambassador was summoned to discuss the illegal and inhumane detention of our two Jordanian citizens and Israel’s delay in replying to the Kingdom’s request for the immediate release of Labadi and Meri,” said a Foreign Ministry statement.

The ministry said that the charge d'affaires at the Jordanian embassy in Israel paid a visit to Labadi to check on her well-being, adding that this was the fifth visit since her arrest.

“The charge d'affaires followed up on Labadi’s health, showed his support, and inquired about her needs until her release,” the statement said.

The statement stressed that the ministry “will continue to demand her immediate release and holds the Israeli authorities responsible for the safety of both prisoners”.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that since Israel has failed to meet the ministry's repeated demands for the release of Labadi and Meri, and continued their illegal and inhumane detainment, the ministry has recalled the Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv for discussion, "as a first step", according to the statement.

"We hold Israel fully accountable for the lives of our citizens and will continue taking all available legal, political and diplomatic measures to ensure their safe return home," Safadi added.  

Meanwhile, a popular movement that was initiated by organisations and activists in recent days to call on the government to pressure Israel to release the two detainees launched a social media campaign late on Tuesday night. 

One of the members and organisers of the social media campaign, Hania Barqawi, said: “We decided to launch an electronic campaign to pressure our government to take serious action to ensure that its citizens are protected and to take the necessary measures to secure the release of Labadi, Meri and all Jordanian detainees in the occupation’s detentions.” 

Barqawi told The Jordan Times that the campaign’s hashtag reached number one in Arabic and number three in English.

Twitter user Wajd Sh tweeted: “We have to convey the voices of Hiba and Abdulrahman to the world, which views Israeli occupation as the oasis of democracy in the region”.

Reem Abdel Khaleq also tweeted: “We must all show solidarity with Hiba and Abdulrahman and stand by their side until they obtain their freedom.”

The campaigners said in a statement that Labadi’s hunger strike has reached its 35th day, “despite her deteriorating health, for which she was forcibly hospitalised twice in the past week”. 

The occupation court has failed to press charges against her, the statement added.

Israel also continues to detain Meri, according to the campaigners, who “is a cancer patient for nine years at the King Hussein Cancer Centre”. 

“Abdulrahman’s arbitrary detention is based on mere suspicion, and his trials are conducted in secret,” the statement charged.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday announced that authorities have arrested an Israeli citizen who had infiltrated the Kingdom through its northern borders.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah said the Israeli citizen is currently undergoing questioning, noting that he will be referred to the concerned authorities for the necessary legal action, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The National Committee for Prisoners in Israel issued a statement stating that they have followed up on news of the arrest of an Israeli man who reportedly infiltrated the Jordanian border.

“We urge the government, in light of Israel’s stubborn refusal to release Labadi and Meri, to ensure that he is not released until the government makes sure that our detainees are released,” the committee’s statement said. 

Several deputies also urged the government to refrain from handing over the Israeli citizen to his government until Labadi and Meri are released.

“We call on the government not to release the Israeli citizen who was caught infiltrating the Kingdom until our two detained citizens are back home safely,” Deputy Qais Zayadin (Amman, 3rd District) wrote on his Facebook page.

MP Khalil Atieh called for the release of all Jordanians who are incarcerated in Israeli prisons.

Upon learning of her six-month detention, Labadi went on a hunger strike to protest the ruling. 

"Hiba was taken to hospital twice this week. She spent three days there; she cannot drink water now and throws up if she tries to, due to a sore throat that is also affecting her chest," Fadi Farah, spokesperson of the committee for prisoners in Israel, told The Jordan Times on Tuesday. 

"Her condition might lead to a heart problem, as her heart muscle has become so weak," Farah added.

In regards to Meri, Farah said that his situation is “not easy”, as he needs continuous medical supervision, since he has been a cancer patient for nine years. 

This supervision has been “intentionally ignored” in Israeli prisons, he said.

AMMAN — HH Prince Mired Bin Raad, president of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), on Wednesday attended the launch of GAM's Braille guide for people who are blind and visually impaired at City Hall in downtown Amman.

The guide, written in Braille code, features general information about the city and public transport, including details about bus stops. 

"The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) is pleased to announce the launch of GAM's Braille guide, as a part of the Royal directives to facilitate access to services for all citizens of different conditions," said Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh at the launch event.

The mayor said that GAM aims to integrate and address the needs of people with visual impairments, who use GAM's services on a daily basis.

"Citizens who are blind and visually impaired are an active group in the Jordanian society, and they are capable of great influence," Shawarbeh stated.

"As His Majesty the late King Hussein said, ‘man is the most precious thing’, therefore, our support is for all persons with no exception," he stressed.

GAM “continues its path in giving for the sake of humanity” through renewing its accomplishments in human development, GAM Director of Geographic Information Systems Nidal Oqla said at the launch.

GAM has issued the guide in order to enhance the lives of people who are blind and promote a sense of partnership between all citizens, the official added.

The launch was also attended by the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Jordan, the Saudi consul, GAM members and Nuwara Hamad, a girl who is blind, who read the new guide in front of attendees by touching the raised dots with her fingers.

"I am very proud of this new project and I thank everyone who participated in creating this useful guide," Hamad said.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the investor grievances by-law for 2019. The by-law aims to provide a transparent mechanism to empower investors who report grievances that result from any government measure or decision.

The system also seeks to study obstacles to economic activity and to find a method that resolves investment-related disputes between government institutions and investors within six months, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

AMMAN — HRH Prince Hassan, president of the Arab Thought Forum, received a delegation of students participating in the national administration programme organised by the National Institute for Public Policy in Pakistan.

During the meeting, the prince shed light on the importance of wise governance and public administration, noting that theoretical frameworks must be accompanied by practical thinking in regards to water and energy administration and the adequate management of national and regional resources, according to a statement from the prince’s office.

Prince Hassan called for the enhancement of cooperation and integration among countries in the region, adding that “no single country can face large-scale challenges, especially in light of escalating human suffering in the region”. 

Prince Hassan also met with a delegation of students from Zurich University of Applied Sciences who are visiting the Kingdom as part of a study plan for an executive master’s degree.