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AMMAN — The number of Jordanians travelling abroad for tourism increased by 7.4 per cent in the first two months of 2025 compared with the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Official figures indicate that around 288,000 Jordanians travelled for tourism in January and February, up from 270,000 during the same period in 2024, Al Mamlaka TV reported.

AMMAN — The Eastern Military Zone on Wednesday thwarted an infiltration and drug smuggling attempt from Syria along its eastern front and within its area of responsibility. 

A military source at the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces–Arab Army (JAF) said that Border Guard forces, in coordination with military security agencies and the Anti-Narcotics Department, foiled the attempt and seized a quantity of narcotics. The confiscated items have been handed over to the relevant authorities.

The source reiterated JAF’s commitment to safeguarding the Kingdom’s borders, emphasising that all available resources and capabilities will be utilised to prevent infiltration and smuggling, ensuring Jordan’s security and stability.

AMMAN — Jordan on Wednesday welcomed the agreement between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan to establish their common international border and the signing of the Khujand Declaration, which reaffirms the enduring friendship among the three countries.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sufyan Qudah commended the agreement as a historic milestone that enhances security and stability in Central Asia. 

He also reiterated Jordan’s commitment to supporting initiatives that foster regional and international stability, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah met on Wednesday in Berlin with representatives of German governmental economic institutions and private companies to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation between Jordan and Germany.

Discussions focused on investment opportunities in sectors of mutual interest, such as green energy, financial services, science, engineering and technology, as well as agriculture and food processing, a Royal Court statement said. 

His Majesty emphasised the importance of strategic relations between the two countries and building on their close partnership, noting that Jordan continues to move forward with political, economic and administrative modernisation efforts, despite regional challenges.

The King highlighted that Jordan’s qualified human capital, advanced legislation, and favourable infrastructure for economic growth enhance its ability to attract investments and provide job opportunities, the statement said. 

His Majesty noted Jordan’s commitment to achieving growth, despite challenges in the region, through a strong banking sector, prudent fiscal policies, advanced digital infrastructure, and serious reform efforts, which have improved the Kingdom’s performance in global credit ratings.

Attendees included representatives from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of German Industries, the German-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a number of major companies and banks.

On their part, the attendees spoke of opportunities to expand investment and cooperation with Jordan in areas including energy, technology, agriculture, and financial services, according to the statement. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, and Jordan’s Ambassador to Germany Fayez Khouri attended the meeting.

Prior to the meeting, the King met with German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck, where they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday visited Jordan’s Restoring Hope Society booth at the 3rd Global Disability Summit in Berlin, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The Restoring Hope initiative was launched last year under Royal directives to address the critical needs of amputees in Gaza, where thousands of individuals of all ages are currently living with limb loss.

To date, more than 415 people, including children, were fitted with prosthetic limbs using advanced technology that allows them to receive a prosthetic within a matter of hours, rather than the months it would traditionally take.

The initiative is a collaboration between several organisations, including the Royal Medical Services, the “Hakeem programme” by Electronic Health Solutions, and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation.

His Majesty was briefed by the society’s team on plans to expand its work, build partnerships with several countries, and build the capacities of specialists, especially after the initiative was transformed into a non-profit organisation under the name Restoring Hope Society, the statement said. 

The King also visited the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ booth at the summit and was briefed on the council’s role in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities in the Kingdom and their integration into society, as well as its role in co-organising the summit on behalf of Jordan.

His Majesty, accompanied by HH Prince Mired bin Ra’ad, chief royal councillor at the Royal Hashemite Court and president of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also visited the Assistive Technology Exhibition, which features the latest innovations in the field of prosthetics and hearing aids.

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned Israel’s expansion of its aggression against the Gaza Strip and its targeting of a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) clinic in Jabalia Camp, in the Strip's north. 

The ministry denounced the attack on UNRWA clinic, which resulted in the deaths of more than 19 people, including children, and left dozens injured, as a "blatant" violation of international law, particularly the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War." 

The ministry's spokesperson Sufian Qudah reaffirmed "Jordan’s unequivocal rejection and denunciation of the systematic campaign targeting UNRWA’s operations in the occupied Palestinian territories."

Qudah emphasised that UNRWA is facing a political assault aimed at undermining its symbolic role in upholding Palestinian refugees' right to return and compensation under international law. 

He noted that this attack is part of a broader effort to deprive the Palestinian people of essential rights and services recognised by the international community, particularly amid the renewed Israeli aggression on Gaza and the closure of crossings designated for humanitarian aid delivery to the enclave.  

He urged the international community to take a firm stand against Israeli actions and continued attacks on UNRWA, which plays an irreplaceable and vital role. 

Qudah stressed the need for sustained political and financial support to enable the agency to continue providing essential services to Palestinian refugees in line with its UN mandate.

The spokesperson condemned the targeting of the clinic in Jabalia Camp and the deliberate arson attack on UNRWA’s headquarters in occupied Jerusalem, describing both as "flagrant" breaches of international law and relevant UN resolutions.

AMMAN — Ambassador Abdullah Abu Rumman presented his credentials on Wednesday to Maltese President Myriam Spiteri Debono as Jordan’s extraordinary and plenipotentiary non-resident ambassador to Malta.

During the ceremony, held at the Presidential Palace in Valletta, Abu Rumman conveyed His Majesty King Abdullah’s greetings to President Debono, along with his best wishes for Malta’s continued progress and prosperity.

President Debono expressed her appreciation and greetings to King Abdullah. She praised His Majesty’s leadership and the strong ties between the two countries, reaffirming Malta’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

The event was attended by the president’s advisors and officials from Malta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.