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AMMAN — Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh on Sunday launched the implementation and improvement of energy efficiency in government hospitals project.

The project involves the installation of solar thermal water heating systems in 33 government hospitals across the Kingdom’s three regions, along with system maintenance, monitoring, and training for hospital staff to ensure efficient operation.

The project aims to provide sustainable energy solutions to Jordan’s healthcare sector, according to an Energy Ministry statement.

During a meeting with Ilham Khreisat, Secretary General of the Health Ministry for Administrative and Technical Affairs, Kharabsheh said that the project's total cost of 3.876 million euros is funded through a joint effort by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF).

Khreisat welcomed the initiative, emphasising the critical importance of regular monitoring, maintenance, and staff training to guarantee the long-term functionality and success of the systems.

JREEEF Executive Director Rasmi Hamzah outlined the project’s phased implementation: the first phase, targeting nine government hospitals in the northern region, will take place in 2025; the second phase will install systems in 15 hospitals in the central region in 2026; and the final phase, for nine hospitals in the southern region, will be completed by 2027.

Hamza added that the project is projected to reduce energy costs in government hospitals by JD 266,407 annually, as well as cut diesel consumption by 290,683 litres per year and liquefied petroleum gas consumption by 35,735 kilogrammes annually.

"This reduction in energy consumption equals 2,588 megawatt-hours per year and will result in a decrease of 866 tons of carbon emissions annually, aligning with Jordan’s national energy strategy for 2020-2030 and contributing to the country's Economic Modernisation Vision and sustainable development goals."

In 2015, JREEEF installed solar water heating systems at Al Bashir Hospital and solar cells at 17 health centres between 2017 and 2019.

The installation of solar thermal systems in 33 government hospitals is part of two major initiatives announced by JREEEF at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources last month.

The second initiative focuses on equipping 12,000 homes with solar water heating systems, promoting the adoption of renewable energy in the residential sector, empowering local communities, and driving sustainable development.

AMMAN — Personnel of the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza on Sunday organised a blood donation campaign in support of the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The blood donations will be transferred to hospitals in the Strip, as part of ongoing humanitarian and medical efforts provided by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) to the people of Gaza, according to a JAF statement.

The commander of the hospital said that the campaign is part of Jordan's ongoing and continuous support, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, for the Palestinian people in Gaza.

He added that these campaigns help secure sufficient quantities of blood for patients in local hospitals, supporting their resilience and providing humanitarian relief.

Meanwhile, the hospital staff distributed medical and therapeutic aid as part of the Kingdom's efforts to support the people in Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian suffering caused by the ongoing war on the besieged Strip.

Representatives of the Ministry of Health in Gaza expressed their "deep" gratitude and appreciation to the Jordanian leadership and the hospital personnel for this generous gesture and their blood donations for Gaza’s patients, which reflects the unity and solidarity between Jordanians and Palestinians.

The Jordanian field hospital in northern Gaza has provided medical and therapeutic services to 18,582 individuals since October 30.

Jordan runs two military field hospitals in Gaza, one in the Strip's north, which was established in 2009 following the war in 2008.

The second was established in Khan Younis in the south in November 2023 at the peak of the Israeli war of aggression on the coastal enclave that erupted on October 7, 2023.

Under Royal directives, Jordan has also recently dispatched a mobile bakery with a production capacity of 3,500 loaves of bread per hour to Gaza.

The bakery would work in collaboration with the World Central Kitchen, an international non-governmental organisation that provides meals and food assistance to those affected by conflict and disasters.

The mobile bakery is part of Jordan's ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian, relief and medical aid to Gaza through all means possible, by land and air.

AMMAN/ DAMASCUS — Chief Commissioner of the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission Captain Haitham Misto on Saturday said that a delegation is ready to go to Syria to assess the technical, logistical and security conditions of the Damascus International and its readiness to accommodate international flights.

In a statement to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Misto said that there was ongoing coordination with the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority.

"Once an official reply is received from the Syrian side, the Jordanian technical delegation will be sent to evaluate the technical state of Damascus airport. Based on the delegation's report, an appropriate decision will be made regarding the resumption of Jordanian flights to Damascus International Airport."

He emphasized that the resumption of air traffic to Syria depends on fulfilling international aviation requirements to ensure aviation security and safety.

Misto also explained that international aviation standards are applied to all airports worldwide without exception. "These standards include logistical, technical, and airspace safety requirements to ensure the security and safety of aviation."

Meanwhile, Syria said on Saturday the country's main airport in Damascus would resume international flights starting next week after such commercial trips were halted following last month's ouster of president Bashar Al Assad, AFP reported.

"We announce we will start receiving international flights to and from Damascus International Airport from" Tuesday, state news agency SANA said, quoting Ashhad al-Salibi, who heads the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport.

"We reassure Arab and international airlines that we have begun the phase of rehabilitating the Aleppo and Damascus airports with our partners' help, so that they can welcome flights from all over the world," he said.

International aid planes and foreign diplomatic delegations have already been landing in Syria. Domestic flights have also resumed.

On Thursday, Qatar Airways announced it will resume flights to the Syrian capital after nearly 13 years, starting with three weekly flights on Tuesday.

A Qatari official told AFP last month that Doha had offered the new Syrian authorities help in resuming operations at Damascus airport.

On December 18, the first flight since rebels ousted Assad on December 8 took off from Damascus airport to Aleppo in the country's north, AFP journalists saw.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Saturday approved several draft laws aimed at enhancing governance, advancing education reform, and promoting media independence.

As part of the government's ongoing public sector modernisation efforts, the Council of Ministers, in a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, approved the draft rationale for amending the 2025 Law on Restructuring Government Institutions and Ministries, according to a Prime Ministry statement.

The proposed law seeks to streamline three key bodies—the Vocational and Technical Skills Development Commission, the Education Quality Assurance and Accountability Unit, and the Higher Education Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission—into a unified entity, the "Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission/Authority."

This new body will be responsible for overseeing regulation, accreditation, and quality assurance across the education and human resources development sectors, incorporating international best practices to enhance effectiveness and ensure excellence.

Under the draft amendment and to bolster media independence, the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation and the Jordan News Agency (Petra)

can be either the minister of government communications or appointed by the prime minister.

The Council also approved a draft bylaw on impact assessment of legislation and policies for 2025, where all government legislation, policies and decisions will be subject to mandatory impact assessments to ensure their quality and effectiveness.

Impact assessments will include a preliminary assessment of expected outcomes and a follow-up assessment after implementation.

By institutionalising the process, the government aims to align legislative and policy decisions with national strategic priorities and enhance their long-term stability.

The bill will apply to all initiatives with potential social, economic or environmental impacts, with a specialised unit within the Cabinet Secretariat overseeing the process, ensuring that ministries and government agencies base their decisions on robust and evidence-based studies.

AMMAN — Pope Francis has appointed Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin as a papal envoy to inaugurate the Church of the Baptism of the Lord in Jordan on Friday, the Holy See announced.

Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media Father Rifaat Bader said on Saturday that Cardinal Parolin will preside over the Silver Jubilee celebrations at the Baptism Site, commemorating 25 years of the annual pilgrimage, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Bader also said that the inauguration will take place during a Mass at the Church of the Baptism of the Lord on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, noting that the church’s foundation stone was laid by the late Pope Benedict XVI on May 10, 2009.

Highlighting the significance of the event, Bader noted the invitation extended by Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries in the Holy Land for all Latin and Catholic churches to participate in the Mass.

He also highlighted preparations made by the Catholic Center, in cooperation with local and international media, to ensure extensive coverage of this important event.

 Reflecting Pope Benedict XVI's remarks during the foundation-laying ceremony, Bader stressed the significance of the location as the site of Christ's baptism and underlined Jordan's enduring importance as a Christian pilgrimage destination.

The church was constructed following the direct supervision and generous donation of "Knight of the Holy Sepulchre" Nadim Muasher, who built it in memory of his son Ayman, who tragically passed away in a traffic accident near the Baptism Site.

The church was built under the direct supervision and generous donation of "Knight of the Holy Sepulchre," Nadim Muasher, in memory of his son Ayman, who died in a traffic accident near the Baptism Site, said Bader. 

AMMAN — In 2024, Jordan's correctional and rehabilitation centres marked a significant year, achieving key milestones that reflect their dedication to humane and reformative practices.

Operating under a legal framework that prioritises human rights, these centres have transitioned from a focus on punishment to a more holistic approach to rehabilitation, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Majali highlighted the department's achievements in 2024, noting the opening of a fully licensed vocational training centre at the Swaqa Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre.

Accredited by the Vocational and Technical Skills Development Commission, the centre offers training in various fields including carpentry, interior design, metalwork, vehicle maintenance, agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, and hairdressing, he added.

"These initiatives equip inmates with valuable vocational skills and certifications, improving their employability and enabling them to better support their families upon release."

Majali also stressed that all inmates are covered by health insurance and receive medical care in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The introduction of the "Hakim" electronic medical system at selected centres has significantly enhanced the quality of health services, he said.

The centres also offer formal education through four accredited schools under the Ministry of Education, as well as cultural and recreational activities, he noted.

"Programmes include Quran memorisation, sports competitions, library access, theatre performances, and educational film screenings."

Majali also said that the Addiction Treatment Centre expanded its capacity to accommodate 60 inmates in 2024, specifically focusing on individuals serving sentences for drug-related offences.

"More than 60,000 in-person visits and over two million phone calls between inmates and their families were facilitated during the year, with inmates allowed to receive visitors three times a week."

Majali also highlighted that "stringent" measures ensure no individual is admitted without a judicial warrant, adding that surveillance systems, on-site prosecutors, and transparency offices are in place to prevent violations and ensure inmates can voice concerns.

The department hosted nearly 600 visits from civil society organisations and international bodies in 2024, strengthening transparency and ensuring compliance with international standards. Majali also underscored the department's commitment to staff training, emphasising the importance of treating inmates with dignity and respect.

AMMAN — Minister of Government Communications Mohammad Momani on Saturday reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to supporting Syria's stability and reconstruction, emphasising that Syria's stability is crucial for regional security and peace.

Momani, who is also the government spokesperson reiterated Jordan's dedication to supporting the Syrian people in rebuilding their country as a unified, independent, and stable Arab state, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

He added that, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, Jordan remains steadfast in offering all possible assistance to the Syrian people.

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned the shooting incident that occurred in the Republic of Montenegro, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries.

The Ministry's spokesperson Sufian Qudah affirmed Jordan's full solidarity and support for the government and people of Montenegro during this tragic event.

He reiterated the Kingdom's rejection of all forms of violence that aim to undermine security and stability, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Qudah extended heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a July 2022 State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a drug dealer to over three years in prison after convicting him of selling illegal narcotics to a police officer 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 in Zarqa on March 3.

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 a small stash of hashish in return for JD10,” court documents said.

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

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, Fazi Nahar, Mohammad Shreiri and Ibrahim Abu Shamma.