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AMMAN — After moving its headquarters from Tla Al Ali to Jabel Luweibdeh in March 2022, the Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) continued with its transition.

The COVID pandemic initiated the relocation of the institute and meanwhile a previous director Carol Palmer was replaced by Jane Humphris, an archaeologist specialised in ancient iron production.

"To produce an iron metal in ancient times involved multiple craftspeople and highly specialised technical knowledge, and required significant quantities of natural resources such as fueland economically viable iron ore. Iron was used to make valuable agricultural tools, weapons, architectural implements and other items which were stronger and more durable thanthose made of other types of materials," Humphris explained.

She added that therefore, iron production, and the iron objects produced, had far-reaching impacts, which means that understanding ancient iron production provides a fascinating window into the past.

"With the team in Amman, we have developed ambitious plans for CBRL’s institute. We have just created a new Research Lab and are hiring to increase the number of researchers we have working in Jordan. We are also developing an exciting programme of events and have relaunched our monthly newsletter which outlines the activities and opportunities CBRL is providing," said Humphris, who spent 20 years researching ancient iron production in Africa, with most recent projects being in Sudan and Ethiopia. 

"We are also working hard to digitise our unique archives and will continue uploading our archive collections to our open access digital repository which is available to all who would like to use it," Humphris said.

"More generally, we intend to continue to grow our impact and activities, to welcome people to the institute to use our facilities, and to be an academic hub for researchers to come together to learn from each other and develop new ideas," she added.

Collaborating with Jordanian universities remains a priority for CBRL," the researcher underlined, adding that one way they will be continuing to do this is via the launch of a new Graduate Network in 2025.

Regarding ongoing projects, the CBRL in Amman works with several high-impact research projects, including projects focusing on aerial archaeology, the British Mandate period, the relationships between heritage, space and youth, and community heritage.

"We continue to provide research funding and support to those researching subjects across the Humanities and Social Sciences and related disciplines, aligning our support to our five research themes: heritage, understanding the past and its present impacts; states, societies and cultures of the Levant; cities and urbanisation; refugees, migration, displacement and diasporas; and challenges of sustainability and resilience, Humphris noted.

These themes, which are revised periodically, ensure the CBRL remains at the forefront of cutting-edge research, Humphris explained.

Before coming to the CBRL, Humphris directed another of the British International Research Institutes (the British institutes in Easter Africa), for six years.

"This provides me with a wealth of experience in running an international research organisation. Nevertheless, all organisations are different, and as we all know, the Levant is a particularly complex region within which to work," she said.

"I realised very quickly that I am blessed with an excellent team of talented, committed and experienced individuals who share my vision of continuing to grow the CBRL as we work towards our mission to advance knowledge and understanding of the peoples and cultures of the Levant," Humphris added.

"The road will not always be smooth, but with this team, and with the support of our Board of Trustees and funders, I think 2025 will be a very productive year for CBRL," Humphris concluded.

AMMAN — The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Friday illuminated the Citadel, one of Amman’s most iconic archaeological and tourist landmarks, to mark the launch of a promotional campaign for the Global Disability Summit.

The summit, co-hosted by Jordan, Germany, and the International Disability Alliance (IDA), will take place in Berlin on April 2-3, 2025, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The campaign, under the slogan "Bdouna Ma Btouzbut" (It Doesn’t Work Without Us), aims to raise awareness of the summit’s objectives and the importance of inclusive development for persons with disabilities.

As part of the campaign, the Council is distributing awareness messages across various social media platforms, using innovative and accessible tools and materials to ensure inclusivity for persons with disabilities.

The campaign will target countries in the region, as well as selected countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

To mark the occasion, the Citadel was lit in dark blue and yellow—the campaign’s primary colours—chosen to symbolise accessibility and support for individuals with visual impairments.

The Citadel was selected for this event due to its environmentally adaptive infrastructure, which ensures accessibility for persons with disabilities to its facilities and archaeological sites, aligning with one of the summit's central themes: the importance of accessibility for people with disabilities.

The Global Disability Summit is an international platform aimed at improving the lives of persons with disabilities. Its mission is to unite global, regional, and local stakeholders to promote inclusive development and ensure that disability rights are integrated into development agendas.

AMMAN — Jordan’s Tripartite Labour Affairs Committee's recent decision to increase the minimum wage from JD260 to JD290, effective January 1, 2025, has sparked debate among experts, organisations, and the public.

The Jordan Labour Watch has welcomed the increase, calling it "a step toward improving workers' living standards and a long-term investment in the country’s economic and social stability."

In a statement to The Jordan Times on Wednesday, the organisation expressed concerns over the sufficiency of the JD30 raise in light of rising inflation rates.

It also pointed out that the new minimum wage constitutes just 46 per cent of the national average wage of JD627, well below the 55 per cent ratio recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The committee's decision to freeze the minimum wage until 2027 has raised questions about its alignment with Article 52 of the Labour Law, which mandates periodic wage reviews to adjust for changes in living costs, the statement added.

Jordan Labour Watch also criticised the exclusion of certain worker groups, such as those in the garment sector and non-Jordanian domestic workers, from the wage increase, labelling the move discriminatory and potentially exacerbating labour market imbalances.

The organisation also stressed that fair wage increases are key to enhancing social equity, reducing poverty, and stimulating economic growth by boosting domestic consumption.

The General Union of Workers in the Textile, Garment, and Clothing Industries has also called for a review of the decision, arguing that the exclusion of garment sector workers violates both the Jordanian Constitution and the Labour Law.

The Social Protection Observatory at Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights Organisation has also recently told The Jordan Times that wage policies should not only reflect economic data but also address the daily struggles faced by the Kingdom’s workforce.

Economist Waseem Hussein said that while the wage hike may have a modest effect on business costs, it could stimulate the economy by enhancing employees' purchasing power, which in turn would increase demand for goods and services.

The Tripartite Labour Affairs Committee, which includes government, employer, and worker representatives, reached this decision in an effort to balance workers' rights with the economic realities faced by employers, according to the Ministry of Labour.

AMMAN — Secretary-General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Amani Azzam on Saturday said that the government’s national programme is focused on delivering natural gas to industrial facilities, with the goal of reducing energy costs and promoting the use of clean energy.

During the National Conference on Climate Change and Green Economy in Amman, Azzam highlighted the programme’s significant progress, including the successful delivery of natural gas to the Al Qweira and Al Qastal regions, as well as the recent inauguration of a reduction and measurement station at the Hashemite Industrial Institutions in Zarqa.

She also announced plans to expand the gas network to cover all industrial cities in the near future, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Azzam also reviewed key strategies for Jordan’s transition to green energy, adding "Green energy now contributes 27 per cent to the country’s total energy mix, underscoring Jordan’s commitment to developing sustainable, environmentally friendly energy sources to address climate change."

Azzam also outlined plans for an innovative electricity storage project at the Mujib Dam, the first of its kind in Jordan.

With a storage capacity of 450 megawatts and a duration of up to seven hours, this project will significantly enhance the country’s ability to store and efficiently use renewable energy, she added.

Azzam also highlighted ongoing electrical interconnection projects with Egypt, Palestine through the Jerusalem District Electricity Company, and Iraq, noting that agreements with Saudi Arabia are near completion to accommodate renewable energy projects within Jordan.

She also stressed the ministry’s focus on attracting investments in green hydrogen, noting that the sector is expected to play a vital role in achieving Jordan’s long-term sustainable energy goals.

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Friday welcomed the adoption of a United Nations General Assembly resolution that calls for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel’s legal obligations in relation to UN activities and the actions of other states supporting Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The resolution, introduced by Norway in partnership with Jordan, Spain, Indonesia, Ireland, South Africa, Palestine, Slovenia, Chile, Guyana, Qatar, Malaysia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Namibia, urges the ICJ to prioritise the request and urgently provide its opinion on Israel’s responsibilities as the occupying power, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah stressed that the resolution aims to address critical issues concerning the activities of the UN and other third-party states in the occupied territories, particularly ensuring unhindered access to essential services, humanitarian aid, and development support for Palestinian civilians, in alignment with their right to self-determination.

The resolution also calls on Israel to cease measures that obstruct the delivery of basic services and humanitarian aid, especially in Gaza, and to respect the rights of international organisations operating in the occupied territories.

It also highlights the crucial role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in providing assistance to Palestinians, urging the full implementation of the agency’s recommendations to protect its neutrality and effectiveness.

The General Assembly resolution also demands that Israel adhere to its obligations under the UN Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, including ensuring the safety of UN staff, protecting UN institutions, and safeguarding facilities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

Qudah reiterated Jordan’s commitment to working closely with the international community to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people, UN agencies, and relief organisations, particularly UNRWA, whose role remains indispensable and irreplaceable.