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AMMAN — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Sunday that it received around $43 million in donor contributions in January 2025 to support its operations.

The agency noted that many Syrian refugees in Jordan were considering returning home, with some ready for immediate repatriation and others requiring more time following the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime.

The UNHCR reaffirmed its commitment to assisting those who opt for voluntary return, offering counselling and transportation support, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In January alone, around 20,000 registered Syrian refugees returned to Syria, raising the total number of returnees since Assad’s fall in December 2024 to around 25,500, according to the UNHCR. 

In January 2025,, UNHCR distributed $3.2 million in cash assistance to 20,000 vulnerable families from host communities in Jordan, reiterating its ongoing support for refugees in the kingdom. 

UNHCR previously announced a $22 million fundraising goal for 2025 to facilitate Syrian refugee returns from Jordan and provide reintegration support upon arrival as part of a broader $370.9 million regional funding plan.

According to the Ministry of Interior, a total of 42,675 Syrians have left Jordan through the Jaber border crossing since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.  

The ministry told Al-Mamlaka TV that 7,117 refugees from Jordan’s camps and 35,558 Syrians from various parts of the country have returned voluntarily to Syria.  

Jordan currently hosts around 1.3 million Syrian refugees, including 660,000 registered with UNHCR, alongside nearly 61,000 Iraqi refugees.

AMMAN — Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Momani affirmed on Sunday that Jordan's comprehensive modernisation plan includes ambitious political reforms aimed at enhancing democratic engagement and boosting youth participation.

Speaking at the Ministry of Government Communication during a meeting with participants in the Parliamentary Fellowship Programme, a key initiative of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, Momani emphasised that political modernisation is a national priority and a cornerstone of the country's stability.

Highlighting the need for bold steps to reshape Jordan's political landscape, Momani, who is also the government spokesperson, noted that His Majesty King Abdullah had directed the formation of the Royal Committee for Modernisation, which includes a wide range of political representatives.

As the Kingdom enters its second centenary, Momani outlined Jordan's three-pronged modernisation strategy, which encompasses political, economic, and administrative reforms, each with clear objectives and implementation mechanisms.

Momani described the political modernisation efforts as among the most significant in Jordan’s history, with key reforms including the allocation of 41 parliamentary seats to political parties, the introduction of an electoral threshold to refine party representation and the reduction of the age of candidacy from 30 to 25.

The reforms also aim to increase women's political participation by requiring party lists to include a young candidate in the top five, a woman in the top three, and another woman in the top six positions, he added.

Momani also commended the Parliamentary Fellowship Programme for providing young participants with leadership skills and enhancing their understanding of the political process. He pointed out that Jordan has moved closer to the centre of the international political and democratic growth index, citing the Kingdom's openness to political, electoral, and party system reforms. 

He also emphasised that the success of these reforms hinges on ongoing monitoring and adjustments to address challenges and ensure effective implementation.

On media literacy, Momani praised Jordan’s efforts in educating young people on how to distinguish between reliable and misleading information. He encouraged greater youth involvement in media literacy initiatives, highlighting their vital role in promoting informed political discourse.

Momani also underscored Jordan’s Cybercrime Law, asserting that it does not restrict freedom of expression, provided individuals respect legal boundaries and avoid engaging in hate speech.

Director of the Parliamentary Fellowship Programme at the King Abdullah II Fund for Development Rama Rawash described the initiative as a direct response to His Majesty’s vision for youth empowerment. 

The programme, run in partnership with the Lower House of Parliament, provides young participants with hands-on experience in legislative work by assigning them as research assistants to Members of Parliament. 

Participants conduct legislative research, analyse proposed legislation, and provide policy insights to legislators. The programme also organises workshops and dialogues between participants and government institutions to familiarise them with public sector operations and decision-making processes.

AMMAN — Netherlands-based AI data training company DataQueue has officially joined Jordan Source, a Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship initiative, to tap into Jordan’s skilled workforce and strengthen partnerships within the country’s digital ecosystem.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed to support DataQueue’s expansion in Jordan to develop local talent and create job opportunities by leveraging Jordan’s highly skilled professionals, according to a statement by Jordan Source on Sunday.

DataQueue helps businesses build, test, and scale human-like AI phone agents through its no-code platform. It specialises in Arabic voice AI solutions, offering fluency in 12 Arabic dialects, and transforming how businesses in the MENA region and Europe, engage with customers through personalized, language-focused innovation.

Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Smeirat said that the partnership will strengthen Jordan’s tech ecosystem, create new opportunities for local talent and enhance their international competitiveness. 

He noted that the MoU aligns with Jordan Source’s broader efforts to attract foreign investment and generate high-quality job opportunities in the sector.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a February Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to eight years in prison after convicting him of attempting to murder a man during a brawl in August 2023.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of attempting to murder the 35-year-old victim who attempted to stop a brawl on August 25 and handed him a 12-year prison term.

However, the court decided to reduce the sentence to 1eight years because the victim dropped charges against the defendant.

Court papers said the victim was walking in the street when he saw a group of men engaged in a brawl.

"The victim rushed to stop the fight but was attacked by the defendant with an iron bar," court documents said.

The victim fell to the ground and the “defendant pulled a switchblade and stabbed him once in the chest,” the court added.

 The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital and survived the assault due to medical intervention, the court added.

The defendant contested his ruling via his lawyer arguing that there were “legal errors in the investigation procedures”.

The prosecution, the lawyer argued, “provided contradictory evidence when implicating my client,” the court documents stated.

The Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the eight-year sentence.

The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court proceedings were accurate and that the defendant was given the appropriate punishment.

The Cassation Court bench comprised judges Naji Zu’bi, Nayef Samarat, Hammad Ghzawi, Qassem Dughmi, and Mohammad Khashashneh.

SHARJAH—Xposure International Photography Festival continues to expand its horizons, shining a spotlight on humanitarian, cultural, and environmental issues through captivating photography exhibitions. With each passing year, the festival grows both in scale and diversity, uniting photographers from across the globe to share untold stories through their lenses. Each image serves as a testament to human resilience, merging artistic vision with the power of creativity.

In an interview with The Jordan Times, Alyazya alghufli, head of the multimedia department at the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, shared insights on the festival’s focus for 2025: “The ninth edition of Xposure explores themes of environmental change, migration, and the destruction caused by wars and natural disasters. Yet, it is equally committed to balancing the documentation of tragedies with reflections of hope.”

Alghufli emphasised the festival’s optimism: “Even in the midst of crisis, photographers capture moments of human endurance, highlighting the inherent survival instinct that pushes people to move forward.” She added, “Where there is devastation, there is also light—a resilient human spirit that strives for a better tomorrow.”

A Unique Narrative Approach

What distinguishes Xposure is its unwavering commitment to storytelling. This is not simply an “exhibition”; it is a celebration of visual narratives that transform photographs from mere documentation into powerful expressions of the human experience. The festival’s selection process is rigorous, beginning the moment the current edition ends. “Each year, the curatorial team ensures fresh perspectives—showcasing unseen works and featuring talents that add depth and complexity to visual storytelling,” alghufli explained.

Beyond focusing on marginalised humanitarian issues, the festival also serves as a source of inspiration. It provides emerging photographers with a platform to flourish, offering mentorship, partnership opportunities and professional development workshops to help guide them in their careers. 

“At Xposure, photography is not a one-sided conversation; it’s a dynamic dialogue that influences the future of photojournalism and visual documentation,” she added.

AI in Photography: A Tool, Not a Replacement

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in photography, a natural conversation emerges. While AI may play a role in certain aspects of image processing, alghufli affirms that the authenticity of capturing a real moment remains irreplaceable.

“Xposure is committed to the belief that photography is about truth—the emotions, realities, and experiences captured in a single frame,” she said. These images, whether from war zones, natural disasters, or everyday life, bring distant stories to global audiences, bridging cultures and perspectives.

“As the festival evolves, its mission remains clear: to inspire, to challenge, and to ensure that the power of visual storytelling leaves a lasting impression,” alghufli concluded.

AMMAN — Olive oil production during the 2024/2025 season increased by 43.2 per cent, reaching 35,828 tonnes, compared to 25,028 tonnes in the 2023/2024 season.  

According to the annual survey of olive oil production in the Kingdom for the 2024/2025 season, released on Sunday by the Department of Statistics (DoS), the oil production rose from 18 per cent in the 2023/2024 season to 19.4 per cent in the 2024/2025 season.  

The total quantity of olives received by presses across all governorates for oil extraction reached 184,903 tonnes in the 2024/2025 season, compared to 138,898 tonnes in the 2023/2024 season, marking an increase of 33.1 per cent, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.  

Based on the price survey conducted by the DoS, the estimated value of olive oil produced in 2024 is JD223.9 million, according to the average price in the fourth quarter of 2024.  

At the governorate level, the results showed that Irbid ranked first in terms of the quantity of pressed olives and olive oil produced, with 89,200 tonnes of olives pressed and 17,600tonnes of olive oil produced in 2024.  

Aqaba recorded the lowest quantities, with 1,300 tonnes of olives pressed and only 0.3 tonnes of olive oil produced.  

The total number of olive presses in Jordan reached 148 in 2024, with 146 actively operating. 

The olive press survey forms are collected through a comprehensive survey conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture.

AMMAN — The Wage Authority Unit addressed 354 labour cases last year while carrying 14 pending cases into 2025, according to Ministry of Labour figures released on Sunday.

Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Zyoud saidthat the specialised tribunal registered 368 cases throughout 2024 while providing legal consultation on 794 labour complaints, directing workers to either file formal wage disputes with the authority or pursue claims through competent magistrate courts, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

"The Wage Authority has exclusive jurisdiction over non-payment of remuneration, illegal wage deductions, delayed compensation, unpaid overtime, and wage discrimination for work of equal value," Zyoud explained, noting that all such cases are expedited under the tribunal's statutory mandate.

Established under Article 54 of Labour Law No. 8 of 1996, the specialised judicial body operates within Amman with jurisdiction over wage-related litigation.

The labour minister may appoint specialists in labour affairs to serve on the tribunal, which can be composed of one or more adjudicators.

The authority provides mediation services at workers' request, provided such mediation occurs within the six-month statutory limitation period following employment termination.

Cases proceed with both parties present or through legal representatives, though worker absence results in dismissal while employer absence triggers default judgment procedures.

Zyoud highlighted that workers may file claims while actively employed or within six months of resignation. Tribunal decisions awarding more than JD100 are appealable to the Court of Appeals within a 10-day notification period.

The spokesman noted that enforcement departments implement the authority's decisions with the same force as regular court judgments, with awarded compensation exempt from instalment payment arrangements.

Worker claims and enforcement documents are also exempt from fees and stamp duties, enhancing access to justice for vulnerable workers.