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AMMAN — Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi, who also heads the follow-up committee for the implementation of Royal Initiatives, on Thursday visited several projects implemented under Royal directives in Karak and Aqaba.

The visit, which coincided with the celebrations of His Majesty King Abdullah's birthday, reflects ongoing efforts to monitor these projects to ensure their long-term sustainability and positive impact on local residents, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

During his visit to Ghor Al Mazraa, Issawi inspected the Martyr Salam Al-Aouna Park and Garden, which has been rehabilitated and enhanced with new playgrounds as part of Royal initiatives. 

The park, which was inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Rania in 2018, features a number of facilities, including seating areas, walking paths, a library and a five-a-side football pitch.

 Issawi, accompanied by local officials, stressed the importance of maintenance efforts to meet the evolving needs of the community and ensure the park's continued functionality.

In the Ghor Fifa area, Issawi visited a wool production project run by the Princess Taghrid Institute for Development and Training, which provides employment opportunities for 30 local women. 

The project trains women in various crafts such as wool production, weaving, dyeing and embroidery, using locally sourced materials.

This initiative has been expanded following directives by King Abdullah, during a previous visit along with Her Majesty Queen Rania, to ensure that the necessary resources and equipment are provided to encourage growth and create more job opportunities for women.

In the same area, Issawi also visited the Jordan Friends Kindergarten, which was recently expanded and equipped with new facilities through Royal initiatives. 

The kindergarten provides free services to 50 children, including uniforms, books and various educational and medical programmes. The project also provides employment opportunities for local women.

Issawi's tour continued in Aqaba, where he visited the Rahma agricultural project in the Wadi Araba region. 

The project, implemnted in cooperation with the Wadi Araba Development Company and the Jordan Valley Authority, covers 1,800 dunums and aims to improve living conditions, alleviate poverty and combat unemployment in the area. 

The Royal Court chief was briefed by local officials on the progress of the project, which includes the establishment of 90 agricultural units for local families, focusing on the cultivation of potatoes and high quality animal feed.

The project will also provide essential infrastructure, including water reservoirs, wells and an irrigation system to support the agricultural units.

"This inspection tour is in line with His Majesty's ongoing commitment to ensure that Royal initiatives are implemented effectively, sustainably and in a way that directly addresses the needs of citizens," Issawi said in remarks to the press. 

He stressed that Royal initiatives have played a key role in transforming local communities and improving services nationwide.

Issawi said that the projects are in line with King Abdullah's vision of sustainable development and social justice, and reflect His Majesty's commitment to improving the welfare of Jordanians across the Kingdom.

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Thursday extended its condolences to the US following a fatal midair collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

The accident resulted in multiple casualties, injuries, and missing persons in the Potomac River.

Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah reaffirmed Jordan’s solidarity with the U.S. during this difficult time, expressing heartfelt condolences to the victims' families, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.  

The official also wished the injured a swift recovery and the safe return of those still missing.

The collision occurred Wednesday night when a US passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed into Washington's Potomac River after colliding midair with a military helicopter on a night training exercise, prompting a desperate search for survivors in the dark, near-freezing water.

The plane was approaching Reagan National Airport at around 9:00 pm (0200 GMT) after flying from Wichita, Kansas, when the collision happened, according to AFP.

American Airlines, whose subsidiary PSA Airlines operated the Bombardier regional jet, said "there were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft."

A US Army official said the helicopter involved was a Black Hawk carrying three soldiers, their status currently unknown. They had been on a "training flight," a separate military spokesperson said in a statement.

Washington police said, "there is no confirmed information on casualties at this time."

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld an August 2022 State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a drug dealer to over three years in prison after convicting him of possessing illegal narcotics in Amman in March 2022.

The court declared the defendant guilty of obtaining illegal narcotics with the intent of selling the drugs to an undercover agent on March 5.

The SSC handed the defendant five years in prison for the offence of possessing illegal narcotics and ordered him to pay JD5,000 in fines.

However, the court decided to reduce the fine to JD3,500 and the prison term to three years and four months in prison to give the defendant a second chance in life.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was in possession of illegal narcotics and sent one of its agents to pose as a buyer.

“The AND agent got in touch with the defendant and asked him for illegal medical substances in return for JD75,” court documents said.

When the two met, AND agents immediately arrested the suspect, court papers added.

The law-enforcement officers escorted the defendant to his residence where they found additional illegal medical substances that were meant to be sold in the local market, according to court papers.

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that the court “did not provide solid evidence to implicate his client”.

The lawyer argued that his client possessed the illegal narcotics for his personal use.

Meanwhile, the SSC prosecution office asked the higher court to uphold the sentence and the fine imposed on the defendant.

The higher court maintained that the SSC had followed the proper procedures in issuing the sentence against the defendant.

“It was clear to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to possessing the illegal drugs to sell in the local market,” the higher court said.

The Court of Cassation judges were Mahmoud Ebtoush, Majid Azab, Hayel Amr, Mohammad Shreiri and Fawzi Nahar.

AMMAN — The Open Market Operations Committee of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) on Thursday decided to keep interest rates on monetary policy instruments unchanged.

The committee said in a statement that the decision came after the latest economic indicators which reflected the strength of the Jordanian banking system, the soundness of its performance, and the reinforcement of monetary stability, supported by a high level of foreign reserves at the Central Bank, which currently stand at $20.8 billion—sufficient to cover the Kingdom’s imports of goods and services for 8.1 months."

The inflation rate last year stood at 1.56 per cent, reflecting a stable monetary environment that supports overall economic stability, the statement said. Banking indicators continued their strong performance, with bank deposits increasing by JD3 billion over the past year, marking a significant growth of 6.8 per cent compared to 2023, bringing total bank deposits to JD46.7 billion.

Credit facilities granted by banks also saw an increase of JD1.4 billion, growing by 4.2 per cent, bringing the total credit facilities to JD34.8 billion, according to the statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

"Despite the unstable conditions in the region, external sector indicators showed positive performance and notable resilience. Jordanians' remittances increased by 2.8 per cent last year, reaching $3.6 billion, while tourism revenue amounted to $7.2 billion, despite a 2.3 per cent decline compared to 2023."

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, in a phone call on Wednesday, discussed regional developments with President of the Spanish Government Pedro Sánchez.

His Majesty stressed the need to ensure the Gaza ceasefire holds and increase international aid, according to a Royal Court statement.

The call also covered the importance of ending the escalation in the West Bank and maintaining Syria’s security and stability.

In addition, discussions addressed the strong ties between Jordan and Spain, and means to bolster them.

AMMAN — The Kingdom celebrates His Majesty King Abdullah’s 63rd birthday today.

Born in Amman on January 30, 1962, King Abdullah is the eldest son of His Majesty the late King Hussein and HRH Princess Muna.

A Royal Decree was issued on January 24, 1999, naming him Crown Prince. He assumed his constitutional powers as King on February 7, 1999, upon the passing of His Majesty the late King Hussein.

King Abdullah began his primary education at the Islamic Educational College in Amman and later attended St. Edmund’s School in Surrey, England. His secondary education took place at Eaglebrook School and Deerfield Academy in the US.

King Abdullah joined the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in the United Kingdom in 1980 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1981.

He joined the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army in 1982, moving up the ranks in the military to become commander of the Royal Jordanian Special Forces and Special Operations.

He also served with the Royal Jordanian Air Force Anti-Tank Wing, where he received his wings in addition to his qualification as a Cobra attack pilot.

In 1987, the King joined the faculty at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC, and completed an advanced research and study programme in International Affairs alongside a Master’s Degree in Foreign Service affairs.

The King rejoined the military in 1989, becoming commander of the Royal Jordanian Special Forces and Special Operations in 1994 with the rank of Brigadier General.

In 1996, the King restructured the Special Forces to comprise selected units and was promoted to the rank of Major General in 1998.

King Abdullah married Her Majesty Queen Rania on June 10, 1993, and they have four children: Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Hussein, Princess Iman, Princess Salma and Prince Hashem.

Since his accession to the Throne in 1999, King Abdullah has focused on enhancing the capabilities of citizens, enriching the concept of respect and dignity of citizens, ensuring the sovereignty of the law, realising equality and justice and equal opportunities for citizens, in addition to focusing on pushing the development process forward and highlighting the effective role of Jordan at the international level.