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AMMAN — The online shopping website Jollychic has announced that it will be shutting down its operations in Jordan, according to a statement issued on its website.

Jollychic, a Chinese website categorised as one of the “most used” applications by both the Android and Apple stores, operates in almost all of the Middle East.

“After the changes in Jordan’s import and online shopping policies, we are afraid we can no longer deliver or operate in Jordan. We are sorry for the inconvenience,” read  the statement.

The Jordanian government announced last month that a JD5 to JD50 tax will be imposed on all online shopping items, as well as setting a JD500 limit on online orders.

Authorities took the new steps in order to organise e-commerce in a way that protects local products and internal trade from online shopping, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported at the time.

The decision received much backlash at the time, with many saying that it is “unfair” and “unreasonable”.

“Now that Jollychic, which is extensively used by Jordanians as an alternative to the low-quality and extremely expensive items here, has been shut down, we can already see the effects of this unjust law,” said Jordanian citizen Bassam Faisal on Twitter.

Others such as Mustafa Khader joined in with the hashtag “#stop the law” and pointed out that “the law does not only take away the citizens’ comfort and freewill but also their jobs, as these companies hire customer support staff. When they close, we lose jobs too!”

Jollychic said in its statement that “it hopes to continue offering services soon”.

AMMAN — Within Nabatean polytheism, the importance of the Nabatean god Dushara increased with the political and economic development of the Nabataean kingdom, said a German archaeologist.

“Being a regional god of the rocky area of Petra and the close by Shara Mountains, Dushara became the city god in the middle of the 3rd BC when Petra was established as a station on the old incense road from south Arabia to the Mediterranean Sea,” Robert Wenning told The Jordan Times in a recent e-mail interview.

With the profit of the incense trade and the growing of the areas controlled by the Nabataeans, not only the inhabitants of Petra venerated the Nabataean deity whose name means “lord of the mountain”. Also, many Nabataeans living in different parts of the Nabatean Kingdom considered him a supreme god.

A possible reason why more and more Nabataeans considered him a supreme god could be that they worshipped Dushara as a demonstration of loyalty to the Nabataean kings, as Dushara was their dynastic god, Wenning elaborated.

Even after the Romans transferred the Nabataean Kingdom into Provincia Arabia in 106 AD, Dushara, or Roman Dusares, remained an important god, the scholar underlined.

The Nabataean religion is characterised by one supreme god/goddess who meets all requirements of his/her worshippers, Wenning elaborated.

A few other deities can be associated to Dushara like Al Uzza, his mother, the scholar said.

“Other deities cover some special aspects or the needs of particular groups. The Nabataean society was complex and Nabataean religion always reflects different local situations,” the scholar underlined.

In ancient times, often a particular deity would become the supreme god, he continued, adding that Assur of the Assyrians, Marduk of the Babylonians and Milcom of the Ammonites had such a role.

Usually in the ancient religions there is a hierarchic structure in the relations between the deities, Wenning said. However, “the Nabataean religion preserves only few elements of such structures and does not create a real pantheon,” the scholar highlighted.

After the areas in the Near East first came under Greek influence and finally under Roman control, the names of the deities were exchanged, he said, noting that the local supreme god became in many cases Zeus.

“We call this an Interpretatio Graeca. Greek was the lingua franca in the East and even Jupiter, the state god of the Romans, was venerated as Zeus, often with an epithet to make differences from site to site,” the archaeologist explained, adding that the case of the Dushara/Dusares from Petra is different.

Although he is equated with Zeus in a few sources, he kept his name, while the name of another Nabataean supreme god called Odoba (Avdat), who was worshipped in the Naqab, was changed to Zeus Oboda, the scholar underlined.

Beside their names, deities are compared and classified by their characteristics and functions. Dushara was a god of the mountains and a weather god in the ancient Near East tradition, Wenning pointed out, adding that in this aspect he was a god of fertility and could be compared with the Greek god Dionysus, the god of wine.

Most scholars agree that Qasr Al Bint, a temple at Petra, was the main sanctuary of Dushara, Wenning said.

“The Egyptian goddess Isis was the most famous female deity at Petra, even more prominent than Al Uzza following the evidence,” Wenning noted.

“There is no homogenous Nabataean religion which fits all the sites, but local forms of the same concepts and beliefs,” Wenning concluded.

AMMAN — Canadian officials, represented by Chargé d'Affaires Christopher Hull, joined Jordanian officials for the closing ceremony of Al Hayat’s programme promoting partnerships between civil society organisations and the education system with the aim of community cohesion in Jordan, at the Geneva Hotel in Amman on Wednesday.

The event celebrated the success of the programme in working with community-based organisations on engaging parents, teachers, counsellors, Jordan’s Ministry of Education and students in critical thinking, online awareness, digital literacy and media literacy skills, according to a statement from the Embassy of Canada.

The programme reached over 700 youth and more than 2,800 beneficiaries in Jordan since 2017, the statement said.

With support from the Government of Canada, Al Hayat’s initiative took an innovative approach to foster community cohesion through unconventional educational tools such as participatory theatre and school debates to engage students in discussions that are not otherwise held in their homes or schools, according to the statement.

 “Al Hayat has provided the tools for kids to safely navigate the online world. As parents, we cannot always be present in every chat, in every click, and in every online interaction. This is why Canada supports programmes like Al Hayat where best practices on Digital Literacy and Media Information Literacy can be shared,” Chargé d'Affaires Christopher Hull was quoted in the statement as saying.

Amer Bani Amer, general director of Al Hayat, shared his appreciation for the support of the project partners, including the Ministry of Education.

“During this initiative, the project partners showed a high level of support for the project purpose, as they all agreed on the importance of the activities, and having similar activities covering all public and private schools in Jordan. The Ministry of Education showed their support on many levels, starting with senior-staff who facilitated the communication and led the coordination with teachers, counsellors, and parents,” Bani Amer said in the statement.

AMMAN — As part of their "everyone's right to health" initiative, ERTIQAA for Empowerment & Awareness Raising will host an advocacy walk for health, September 6.

"We will walk because we believe everyone in Jordan is entitled to equal opportunities in health access, support and education," a press release e-mailed to The Jordan Times read.

Non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes account for 78 per cent of deaths in Jordan, according to World Health Organisation 2017 Statistics. 

ERTIQAA, a network member of NCD Alliance focused on health empowerment and awareness raising, is hoping to bring attention to this fact.

"This is part of our Human Rights and equality health awareness raising campaign; whereby, we call for everyone’s right to health in terms of access, information, education, and support regardless of where they live or who they are; as disease knows no boundaries and has no nationality," their press release reads.

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania marked the start of the new school year with a visit to Dulayl in Zarqa Governorate on Wednesday, where she attended a school fair and learned about the impact of the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) Healthy Kitchen Project on the local community.

Launched in 2015 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and the World Food Programme (WFP), the Healthy Kitchen Project aims to provide nutritious meals to school students and promote healthier eating habits among Jordanian children. The project not only provides students with healthy alternatives, but also creates jobs in community-based productive kitchens, according to a statement from Her Majesty’s office.

Queen Rania was welcomed to Prince Abdullah Bin Al Hussein District Secondary Mixed School by school principal, Rahmeh Mashaqbeh, and RHAS Director, Hanin Odeh, where 670 students from kindergarten to grade six are benefiting from the Healthy Kitchen Project’s meals.

The Queen passed by the school’s Health Fair, where she joined parents, teachers and children for a series of fun and informative activities promoting oral hygiene, sports, road safety, and hydration. Organised as part of RHAS’ Healthy School Programme, the fair also offered free medical testing and awareness sessions on anaemia and healthy dietary practices.

A total of 241 schools across Jordan are currently participating in the RHAS Healthy School Programme. More than 110 schools received accreditation at the Gold, Silver, or Bronze levels for the 2018/2019 academic year, including 35 that maintained their Gold level accreditation from previous years.

Principal Mashaqbeh noted that her school, which is accredited at the Gold level, has seen positive results after implementing a number of RHAS health awareness projects, including Ajyal Salima, Think First, and Water Education. The Queen also heard from parents, who explained how the school’s programmes have inspired their families to eat healthier.

Her Majesty also visited Dulayl’s Healthy Kitchen, operated by Al Dulayl Women’s Association for Special Education, where she toured the kitchen’s facilities and spoke with its field coordinators and employees. The kitchen provides jobs to 25 members of the local community and supplies nutritious meals to 4,750 students from 22 public schools in the area. It also provides 40 daily meals to students with disabilities.

Established in 2003, Al Dulayl Women’s Association for Special Education aims to raise awareness on the rights of people with disabilities, build their skills, and create job opportunities for local community members. It also supports the integration of people with disabilities into society.

Queen Rania wrapped up her visit with a stop at the association’s Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities, which offers training programmes on marketable skills such as sewing and beauty care. 

Association President Fatmeh Dahamsheh explained how revenue generated from Dulayl’s Healthy Kitchen is reinvested into the operations of the kitchen and vocational centre, as well as physiotherapy sessions and a financial assistance programme, in an effort to extend its impact far and wide across the local community.

Launched in 2015 as part of the Ministry of Education and WFP School Feeding Programme, the Healthy Kitchen Project is currently being implemented in 283 schools in Madaba, Irbid, Ajloun, Zarqa, Mafraq, Balqa’a, and Karak, providing balanced meals to more than 57,400 students every school day. 

The project has also created more than 300 jobs primarily for women, who are trained on meal production standards and the importance of healthy lifestyles.

AMMAN — Jordan on Wednesday condemned the terrorist attack that targeted the Romanian embassy in Afghanistan on Tuesday, claiming the life of a diplomat and injuring a number of people, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah said that the attack in the capital Kabul was a flagrant violation of the international law and Geneva conventions in terms of protecting and respecting diplomatic missions.

Qudah also expressed condolences over the loss of life and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

AMMAN — Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry Saja Majali on Wednesday received a copy of the credentials of the newly appointed Qatari ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Bin Jassim Al Thani.

During the ceremony, Majali conveyed her best wishes to the new ambassador and expressed hope that Jordanian-Qatari relations grow and prosper further, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Also on Wednesday, Zeid Louzi presented a copy of his credentials to Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan Bin Saad Al Muraikhi as the Kingdom’s ambassador to Doha.

During his meeting with Muraikhi, Louzi went over bilateral relations and means to enhance them at various levels in a way that serve both countries’ interests.

AMMAN — The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) on Wednesday said that it had spotted some discriminatory practices in several institutions, in which they had eliminated individuals’ memberships due to their disabilities.

The HCD, in a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, stressed its utter rejection of such discriminatory practices, warning that they violate human rights and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law. The council also called on all who experience such maltreatment to visit the HCD and file a complaint.

AMMAN — Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh on Wednesday said the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has taken steps to reduce the effects of climate change, highlighting the Amman Plan launched in last June.

In a GAM statement sent to The Jordan Times on Wednesday, Shawarbeh said that climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges as its effects have become “tangible” in recent years.

The mayor highlighted the importance of raising awareness about climate change and risks, especially on the weather. 

During a meeting with members of the climate change committee, the statement cited Shawarbeh as saying that the efforts to combat climate change can reduce the phenomenon’s negative effects, but cannot completely stop them.

He called for integrating the climate change combat plan on the field through boosting communication with local partners: Meteorological Department, crises management, the Civil Defence Department and international organisations.

The mayor proposed identifying the tasks of each sector and the GAM department in order to be part of the plan.

The plan to combat climate change, which the GAM launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and through the support of the World Bank last June, includes various aspects that call for preserving the environment through sustainable practices and policies that improve people’s lives and keeps the city for future generations. 

Moreover, the plan complements the Amman Resilience Plan, launched in 2017 with the aim of boosting the capital’s capabilities to face crises and problems, according to the statement.  

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated the new free zone at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), which will be a trade and investment hub for various sectors, offering a comprehensive package of logistical services to support investment and exports.

The free zone was revamped at a cost of JD38 million, extending over an area of 1,000 dunums, replacing the 30-dunum free zone that was established in 1998 in the cargo area of the QAIA and in line with government plans to bolster the investment climate in Jordan.

During the King’s visit, a video was screened that highlighted the construction phases of the new free zone, which offers a business-friendly environment, tax incentives, and a logistical centre for importing and reexporting.

Over the next five years, the number of direct job opportunities offered at the free zone is expected to increase from 300 to 3,500, while the number of indirect jobs is expected to rise from 600 to 4,000.

Some 59 local, Arab, and international companies currently have investments in the free zone, which includes an administrative building that houses a one-stop shop for investors, two business parks for commercial offices, a logistical services building for customs clearance and insurance companies, banks, and restaurants, and a customs clearance area.

His Majesty, accompanied by Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, also toured the one-stop shop for investors and was briefed on the services it provides in streamlining measures and registering projects in a timely manner.

The King was also briefed on the measures taken by the Jordan Investment Commission (JIC) to reach out to investors to resolve pending issues and create a specialised follow-up unit to maintain communication with local and international investors.

Jordan Free and Development Zones Group (JFDZG) Chairman Khalaf Humiesat said this project complies with King Abdullah’s vision to establish free development areas “that would ease up and simplify the procedures for investors who wish to invest in the Kingdom”.

“This free zone was established with the highest international standards, with the aim of attracting investors to use the facility and rent offices for their businesses,” Humeisat told The Jordan Times.

The chairman added that the future goal is to ensure that the entire area, including offices and conference and meeting halls, would be rented out by investors, which will “guarantee JD100,000 million in revenues on an annual basis”.

Acting General Manager at the JFDZG Amal Zanoun added that an important factor is the free zones proximity to the cargo area at the airport.

“The close vicinity to the airport will surely encourage investors to make use of this area and to rent the storage space for their merchandise,” Zanoun told The Jordan Times.

JIC Chairman Khaled Wazani said the commission is also reworking procedures in line with His Majesty’s vision to attract investors and ensure follow-up with them before and after they invest in the Kingdom through a monitoring and evaluation mechanism aimed at increasing investor satisfaction.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Al Khasawneh, and Adviser to His Majesty for Policies and Media Kamal Al Nasser attended the inauguration.