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AMMAN — The Lower House on Monday approved seven articles of the 2025 draft law on cooperatives, out of a total of 25 articles, and referred the draft amendments to the 2025 Penal Code to the parliamentary Legal Committee for further study.

The legislative session, chaired by Speaker Ahmad Safadi, was attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and members of the Cabinet, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Monem Oudat said that the draft law regulates the establishment and operation of cooperatives and outlines the conditions under which they must function. He emphasised that cooperatives governed by the new law will not fall under the jurisdiction of the Private Associations Law.

Minister of State Ahmad Owaidi Abbadi noted that although the term "cooperatives" had been used previously, it has since been updated. He stressed that the definitions outlined in the draft are necessary and appropriately placed, adding that cooperatives within each governorate will be organised into governorate-level unions, while sectoral unions will serve specialised fields.

During the session, lawmakers introduced an amendment to Article 5, adding a new clause stipulating that any member who misses three consecutive meetings without an acceptable excuse will forfeit his or her membership.

They also amended Article 1, changing the title of the legislation to the “Law on Cooperatives” and specifying that it will come into force 30 days after its publication in the Official Gazette, deviating from the recommendations of the Agriculture and Water Committee.

The Chamber had referred the draft law to the Agriculture and Water Committee on 10 March 2025. The committee completed its review and approved the draft earlier this month.

The draft law provides for the creation of a Cooperative Development Fund within the Cooperative Institution to offer essential financing to the sector. The fund aims to ensure the equitable distribution of resources, support small- and medium-sized production projects, and create employment opportunities, particularly in the agriculture sector.

The bill also establishes a Cooperative Development Institute to promote the cooperative model and train national personnel in management, operations, and accounting systems, strengthening cooperatives' capabilities and improving their performance.

Other provisions aim to regulate, monitor, and govern cooperative activities to protect members' rights and ensure organisational sustainability.

The draft law also addresses the receipt and allocation of external funding and grants to support the sector’s growth as an economic pillar, and simplifies the procedures for establishing and registering specialised and regional cooperatives in line with international cooperative principles and best practices.

Additionally, the law seeks to enhance the participation of women and youth in the cooperative sector and encourages the establishment of cooperatives by persons with disabilities and residents of remote areas.

AMMAN — The Eastern Military Zone said on Monday that it had thwarted an infiltration and drug smuggling attempt from Syrian territory into the Kingdom.

A military source from the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF)–Arab Army said that Border Guard Forces in the Eastern Military Zone, in coordination with military security agencies and the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND), monitored a group of smugglers attempting to illegally cross into Jordanian territory.

Rapid response patrols were deployed, and the rules of engagement were applied, resulting in injuries among several smugglers, while others fled back into Syrian territory, the source said.

"An intensive search of the area led to the discovery and seizure of large quantities of narcotics, which were handed over to the relevant authorities."

Also on Monday, the Southern Military Zone on Sunday said it had intercepted a drone attempting to smuggle narcotics across Jordan’s western border.

The military source said that Border Guard Forces, in cooperation with security agencies and AND, detected, tracked, and shot down the drone inside Jordanian territory. The seized materials were turned over to the relevant authorities.

The JAF also reaffirmed its commitment to employing all necessary measures to prevent any form of infiltration or smuggling, emphasising the army’s ongoing efforts to safeguard Jordan’s security and stability.

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned the tragic car-ramming incident that occurred during a festival in Vancouver, western Canada, which resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries among Filipino nationals.

In a statement, the ministry reiterated the Kingdom’s full solidarity with the governments and peoples of Canada and the Philippines, stressing its firm rejection of all forms of violence threatening security and stability.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah expressed Jordan’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a swift and full recovery.

AMMAN — Over 1.2 million students in Gaza and the West Bank have benefited from Jordan's free e-learning platform, which was specifically developed to support Palestinian students. The platform has been available since the start of the current academic year.

Alaa Jarrar, CEO of the Jordanian interactive e-Learning solutions and content company, Jo Academy,  said that the "Wise School" platform and application were developed in collaboration with the World Islamic Sciences and Education University. 

Jarrar told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the initiative was launched in response to Royal directives as part of Jordan's ongoing efforts to enhance the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and ensure that students continue their education despite the ongoing challenges, particularly the impact of the Israeli conflict in Gaza.

He said that the platform allows students to download study materials and continue their education offline, without the need for an internet connection. He praised the role of the World Islamic Sciences and Education University in producing content, filming lessons, and recording them in their studios.

The platform covers the Palestinian curriculum from grade one to the twelfth grade (Tawjihi) and offers students a certificate accredited by the Palestinian Ministry of Education and recognised in Jordan. Jarrar noted that over 100 Jordanian teachers contributed to creating and explaining the educational content.

Jarrar said that the "Wise School" application is now among the top five most visited educational platforms globally, offering interactive academic content, worksheets, exercises, and video lessons. “The platform also includes specialised content in areas such as psychological support, digital marketing, design, programming, and first aid.”

“The application [Wise School] is designed to support Palestinian students in preparing for Tawjihi examination and helps the Palestinian Ministry of Education implement the necessary standards and guidelines for exam administration. 

AMMAN — Amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the World Central Kitchen (WCK) and Jordan’s mobile bakery remain among the last lifelines for hundreds of thousands of civilians facing severe food shortages.

Since October 2023, WCK’s Palestinian team has provided over 130 million meals across Gaza, adapting to increasingly difficult conditions.

Currently, according to José Andrés, founder of WCK, the Israeli authorities have shut all crossings into Gaza, stopping humanitarian shipments and leaving food stocks critically low.

“We are now near the end of our supplies—and the limits of what is possible,” Andrés said. “The humanitarian crisis grows direr each day.”

No fresh fruit has entered Gaza for over a month, and the last protein stocks have already been cooked. Chefs have shifted from rice-based meals to stews made from canned vegetables, conserving both food and fuel, according to WCK.

To meet growing needs, WCK now operates Gaza’s only remaining bakery, producing 87,000 loaves of bread daily. The mobile bakery runs 19 hours a day and also supplies wheat flour to a local partner bakery. Bread has become a precious resource, often replacing full meals where cooking is no longer possible.

Facing acute fuel shortages, WCK teams have adapted by using wood from shipping pallets combined with eco pellets to power their stoves. Aid groups have donated pallets, and a local producer has helped create a new fuel source made from olive husks.

However, without immediate action to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, WCK has warned that it will no longer be able to continue its operations.

Jordan’s mobile bakery, deployed to Gaza on December 24, 2024, under Royal directives, is also playing a critical role. Working in coordination with WCK, the Jordanian bakery has become the sole provider of bread to many local communities, producing over 75,000 loaves daily with a capacity of 3,500 loaves per hour.

Stationed in central Gaza, the bakery is part of Jordan’s comprehensive humanitarian response to the ongoing conflict, which also includes the delivery of food, medical, and relief supplies by land and air.

Despite immense challenges, Jordan and WCK have reaffirmed their commitment to alleviating the suffering in Gaza.

WCK has stated its readiness to welcome aid trucks from Egypt and Jordan— but to do so, the crossings must reopen and the aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Without urgent intervention, the last remaining sources of food aid in Gaza may soon be forced to halt.

AMMAN — Director-General of the Jordan Museum Ihab Amarin attended a “prestigious” high-level forum for museums hosted by UNESCO in China, underscoring the museum's dynamic role as an educational and community hub.

The forum, which took place from April 23 to 26, focused on the evolving responsibilities of museums, emphasising their importance as “lifelong” learning institutions. 

Discussions focused on the expanding roles of museums beyond heritage preservation, as well as the integration of digital technologies into museum practices, according to a statement released by the Jordan Museum on Monday.

Amarin participated in sessions that brought together museum directors, heritage experts, and cultural leaders from around the world. 

He shared the Jordan Museum’s experience as a platform for education and cultural exchange, catering to diverse audiences including students and tourists. The museum offers immersive cultural experiences that showcase Jordan’s rich historical contributions across various periods.

Amarin also highlighted the museum’s innovative programmes designed to engage students in Jordan’s cultural and creative legacy, boosting national identity by connecting them with the country's historical milestones.

During his address, Amarin spoke about how the Jordan Museum tailors its exhibitions and content to align with societal challenges, focusing on human achievements in areas such as water management, architecture, urban planning, art, food technology, agriculture, and mineral resources.

The director-general also showcased the museum’s innovative use of modern digital technologies in exhibitions, as well as its efforts to make the museum more accessible for people with disabilities. 

The museum has implemented advanced tools to ensure that visitors with mobility or visual impairments can fully engage with the exhibits, he noted.