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AMMAN — President of Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) Wejdan Abu Elhaija has welcomed a delegation from the National Council for Future Technology as part of the council’s Advanced Technologies Committee activities.

The delegation, led by AI and autonomous systems expert Paul Mitchell, met with Abu Elhaija in the presence of Vice President Bassam Hammo, Advisor to the President for Student Success and Retention Abdul Ghafour Saidi, members of the University’s Council of Deans, and Director of International Relations Sufyan Majali, according to a PSUT statement.

During the meeting, Abu Elhaija highlighted the university’s achievements under the guidance of HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, in developing higher education and scientific research, and linking them with technology and innovation.

On the sidelines of the meeting, a discussion session on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems was held with Mitchell, moderated by Vice Dean of the King Abdullah II School of Engineering Amjad Mousa.

The session aimed to strengthen research cooperation in advanced technology and support national talent.

Faculty members and students engaged in the session, raising questions that reflected the university’s scientific progress and commitment to building students’ academic and technical skills in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.

AMMAN — The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) is scheduled on Tuesday to host a regional forum, under the theme "Accessible Arab Region: ICT for All".

According to a TRC statement on Saturday, cited by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the event is held in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with "broad" Arab and regional participation.

TRC Chairman Bassam Sarhan said that the event affirms Jordan's position as an "active regional" hub, which supports digital and development initiatives in the Arab world.

The Jordanian effort was reflected in the recommendations of the Council of Arab Ministers of Telecommunications and Information Technology following the conclusion of the 28th session in Cairo, which announced Amman as the Arab Digital Capital for 2025, he pointed out.

Sarhan added that the scale of participation in the event reflects the TRC's "vital" role in leading the regional dialogue on issues of promoting digital access and inclusion.

He noted that such presence shows the TRC's "commitment" to coordinating with relevant international and regional entities to exchange expertise and transfer knowledge, which contributes to achieving policy development and a comprehensive digital transformation that serve all segments of society.

Sarhan said that the event is an opportunity to highlight and share Jordanian expertise across all sectors with all specialised international entities.

The two-day event will discuss digital inclusion policies and strategies, aimed to enhance digital accessibility in the telecommunications sector as a prerequisite for achieving inclusion for all members of the digital system, the statement said.

AMMAN — Chairman of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Fares Breizat on Friday received a delegation of US Senate and House of Representatives staff and committees working on bilateral relations, mainly foreign affairs and allocations.

The delegation was briefed on Jordan's experience in managing tourist and heritage sites, mainly the ancient city of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

During the meeting, Breizat briefed the delegation on Petra's development plans, highlighting the efforts made to support local communities, preserve the site's cultural identity, and protect Petra as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Breizat highlighted the importance of preserving the Bedouin culture in Petra, inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.

Breizat also spoke about USAID's projects in Petra, particularly the visitor transportation projects within and outside the archaeological reserve and the Green Growth Tourism projects, which contribute to enhancing Petra's cultural heritage and sustainable tourism in Petra.

He also noted that PDTRA is working to sign agreements with several reserves in the United States.

The delegation members expressed their "remarkable" admiration for the "excellent organisation, stable security, and advanced "tourist services in Petra, urging tourists to visit this "unique site and enjoy an unforgettable" tourist and cultural experience.

In 2024, PDTRA signed a $15 million grant agreement with USAID to finance 18 projects aimed at enhancing Petra's position as a "global" tourist destination and enhancing its tourist "competitiveness" by diversifying its products, increasing the sector's revenues, and creating new job opportunities in the region.

AMMAN — Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) Ziad Saideh on Saturday announced that 100,000 composite plastic gas cylinders will be available in the market during the initial phase, following full approval and inspection by relevant government authorities.

In remarks to Al Mamlaka TV, he said that the price of the composite cylinder will match that of the traditional metal one.

Saideh said that the cylinders are expected to be available in the market by the end of the first half of 2025, after completing the necessary testing procedures and factory inspections.

He also noted that two investors have already applied to invest in the composite gas cylinders.

Work is still underway to finalise the regulatory and legislative procedures necessary for granting them licenses to distribute the cylinders through authorised filling centres.

He added that other investors have shown interest and made inquiries regarding the initiative.

In an earlier statement to Al Mamlaka TV, Saideh noted that the handling and loading of the composite cylinders will follow the current approved practices, utilising special boxes within licensed distribution vehicles, in line with public safety requirements.

The EMRC in February announced the adoption of plastic gas cylinders for household use.

At the time, the commission said that these cylinders will be available as an optional alternative alongside the traditional metal cylinders currently used in homes.

The decision aligns with technological advancements in gas filling, storage, and distribution, aiming to enhance safety standards, sustainability in energy resource utilisation, and provide more efficient solutions for consumers while improving quality of life.

EMRC stressed that introducing this type of cylinder, the first of its kind in Jordan, will benefit all stakeholders, including citizens, industry workers, and investors alike.

The new household gas cylinder has a capacity of 12.5 kilogrammes of gas, matching that of the traditional metal cylinder.

Tests conducted by the Royal Scientific Society have confirmed the quality of the plastic cylinders, including explosion resistance, fragmentation control, pressure endurance and heat tolerance.

The "high-quality" materials of the plastic cylinders contribute to lower carbon emissions, improved environmental sustainability, and enhanced recyclability, making them an eco-friendly alternative to traditional metal cylinders, the EMRC noted.