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AMMAN – HH Prince Mired, president of the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday, met with the Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During the meeting, they highlighted the importance of supporting people with disabilities and enabling them of integrating and participation within their families through rehabilitation, and providing them with more opportunities that would enhance their social role.

The meeting also tackled the draft law on people with disabilities that was referred by government to the parliament.   

AMMAN — The Royal Medical Services (RMS) and the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) on Tuesday signed a cooperation agreement to produce and market medical radioactive isotopes.

The agreement aims at exchanging relevant expertise, applying a quality system that meets international requirements, developing medical uses of these isotopes which can be produced at the Jordanian nuclear reactor project for research and training, according to an RMS statement.

RMS Director General Maj. Gen. Muin Habashneh said this cooperation constitutes a qualitative leap in producing these radioactive items for medical diagnosis and treatment purposes, and helps RMS secure these materials from local sources, which saves time, effort and money.

JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan said his agency would operate the reactor and produce the isotopes to serve the local and regional markets, the statement added.

AMMAN — Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury on Monday said that his ministry is looking forward to the USAID, to fund part of the development in governorates through its programmes and projects, a ministry statement said. 

Fakhoury made his remarks during a meeting to follow up on the outcomes of the governorate development programme for the years 2016-2018 with Interior Minister Salameh Hammad, governors, US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells and USAID Mission Director in Amman Jim Barnhart.

During the meeting, Fakhoury said the funds needed to support the governorate's priorities and needs for 2016-2018 amount to JD2.188 billion, JD1.363 billion of which will be funded from budgets, ministries and independent government units, and thus the financial gap is estimated at around JD825 million.

Moreover, he said the Cabinet decided to allocate JD450 million for the years 2016-2018 to the governorates infrastructure project, and under the decision a set of top development priority projects will be implemented. 

A joint team from the Planning Ministry and USAID has conducted a tour to all governorates, during which they discussed the development priorities and the range of possible USAID contribution to funding part of the projects that are top priority for local communities, according to the statement.

Fakhoury highlighted the Interior Ministry's role, through governors, as a key partner in facilitating meetings with the public to determine the top needs of each governorate for the next three years, thus coming up with the list of development priorities that resulted from the participation of Senates, MPs, mayors, representatives from the private sector, Chamber of Commerce and Trade, and civil society institutions. 

For their part, USAID representatives gave a presentation on their executive plans to contribute in funding the projects, during which the mission director said that the priorities include supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises, creating job opportunities, training workers, supporting renewable energy projects and financing water, education, agriculture and tourism. 

During the upcoming weeks, the planning and interior ministries, in cooperation with different national funds, are going to conduct field visits on the level of governorates and administrative districts  to conduct workshops and raise awareness of the different funds and their programmes, in addition to the government's programmes aimed at supporting the citizens' productivity. 

The US ambassador expressed appreciation to the government efforts to achieve local development, commending the planning ministry approach in designing and implementing development programmes that respond to the needs of local communities in different sectors.

USAID director in Amman also highlighted the importance of coordination between the agency and the planning and interior ministries in regards to field visits to governorates so that the agency can have a firsthand look at the development needs and priorities of citizens.

He pointed out that USAID's interventions would be in line of local community needs and the governorates' development programmes.

At the meeting, the USAID gave a presentation on its plans to contribute to funding development needs and priorities in governorates.

The agency's director said the most important development needs and priorities were shortlisted as the focus would be on supporting SMEs, creating new job opportunities, developing and training the workforce, supporting renewable energy projects, and supporting projects in healthcare, water, education, tourism and agriculture sectors.

"We look forward for the USAID to finance part of the development priorities of governorates, especially in funding projects of new buildings, annexes and maintenance of schools, improving services of health centres and hospitals, implementing priority projects in water, agriculture, tourism and renewable energy sectors," Fakhoury said.

Fakhoury briefed the gathering on the challenges that face governorates such as unemployment, increase in poverty rates and the pressure on basic services and infrastructure caused by Syrian refugees.  

"This was scientifically and realistically demonstrated in the outcomes of the last population census. The ministry modified the governorates' development programmes based on those outcomes. To alleviate the burdens the ministry allocated additional financing for governorates' development to implement projects in a bid to reduce poverty and unemployment," he added.

As there is a dire need to set up income-generating projects, the Fakhoury pointed out to the recent agreement signed between the ministries of planning and labour  to launch a nationwide initiative for expand productive branches to all governorates at a cost of JD14 million.

Through those branches, 20 new schemes would be set up in rural and underprivileged areas in addition to the 16 branches already established, the ministry's statement said.

Through funding initiatives, the ministry seeks to encourage free enterprise, entrepreneurships and support programmes that help improve the business and investment environment in governorates.

AL QATRANA — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), on Monday presented the Supreme Commander’s Flag to three battalions of the King Hussein Bin Talal 40th Armoured Brigade, which was created in 1961.

The handing over of the banner is a show of appreciation for the bravery and sacrifices offered by members of these units and their role in defending the country and is part of continued efforts by King Abdullah to recognise the various units of the army.

At a ceremony, where the JAF’s band played several musical compositions as the army personnel lined up around armoured vehicles and tanks, the Monarch handed over the flag to the Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah II First Mechanised Battalion, the Second Armoured Battalion, and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein 4th Tank Battalion. 

Several Royal family members and high-ranking officers and officials attended the ceremony.

The brigade’s battalions participated in several wars and played a key role in defending Palestine in 1948, 1967 and 1973.

Addressing attendees, the commander of the brigade highlighted the armed forces’ valour and sacrifices to protect the Kingdom.
Upon arrival at the ceremony site, the King received an official welcome that included a 21-gun salute by the artillery.
The base colour of the banner is maroon and in the centre lies an image of the Royal Crown lifted on two ears of wheat. 

On the top corner of the flag to the side of the wand appears the emblem of the honoured unit.

AMMAN — A new regulation listing the names of centennial, rare and wild endangered trees and plants and banning cutting them down has entered into force after being issued in the Official Gazette.

Under Article 3 of the new regulation, published in the Official Gazette on March 31, trees including the Aleppo pine aged over 200 years, deciduous oaks aged over 350 years, oaks aged more than 300 years and pistacias aged over 150 years are all categorised as centennial forest trees whose chopping or uprooting is prohibited whether found in forest, treasury or private lands.

Article 4 of the new regulation also specified Jordan’s rare and endangered forest trees, which include acacia in Wadi Araba and the southern desert, wild cupressus in Talfileh Governorate, platanus in Wadi Rajeb in Ajloun Governorate and the Jordan Valley, maringa in Azzarah area and the Jordan Valley, wild olive in Burma, Jerash and Ajloun, maple in Jerash, Ajloun and Salt, hawthorn, Arak, Euphrates poplar and wild pear.

Director of the forestry department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Eid Zu’bi, said on Monday that the new regulation has been issued as part of Appendix A of Article 34 of the Agriculture Law No. 13 of the year 2015 and its amendments.

Zu’bi underscored that cutting down centennial and endangered trees has always been banned under the law, noting that the new regulation was issued to name and specify the country’s centennial and endangered forest trees and to maximise the penalty against those who cut them down.

Article 5 of the new regulation stipulates that cutting down any rare, centennial or wild plant or tree is penalised in accordance with Appendix D of Article 34 of the Agriculture Law No. 13 for the year 2015 and its amendments.

“The law stipulates that those who cut down rare, centennial or wild plant or tree face six months of imprisonment and are fined thrice the cost of a rare or centennial tree, thrice the cost of every chopped down rare or centennial fruit tree and JD1 for every cut down or damaged wild plant,” Zu’bi noted.

AMMAN — The University of Jordan’s (UJ) council of deans announced a decision banning protesters from staying overnight on campus for “security reasons”, the university’s caretaker President Azmi Mahafza said on Sunday.

As students continue their protest against raising the tuition fees, the council of deans said the university “does not mind” having “peaceful” sit-ins, but these are not allowed to stay after closing the university gates at midnight.

Students were not forced to end the protest, Mahafza told The Jordan Times, adding that those who do not follow the statement issued by the council are to be held accountable for violating the new rule.

“This is not about the protest; it is about the safety of the students living in dorms and about preserving the university’s assets… Students have the right to protest, however, they are not allowed to stay after the gates are closed,” he added.

The sit-in started on February 28, when students from different faculties came together to demand reversing the decision of raising fees for the parallel and post-graduate programmes.

UJ’s board of trustees had lowered the raise on fees by half around three weeks ago during a meeting with the Higher Education Council, and agreed to gradually scrap the hike over a period of two years.

Students have not received a response on the scheduled cancellation of the raise, according to Alaa Hajjeh, who is one of the protesters.

“The board signed an agreement of dropping the raise by half for both programmes… The Higher Education Council asked board members to schedule the remaining percentage for the next two years, and they have to provide us with this schedule,” he said.

He noted that when demonstrators suspended the decision on March 18, they expected to see the deal implemented on the ground.

Mahafza said the board members and university administration are “studying” the decision to lower the remaining percentage taking into account the university’s financial deficit and budget.

He added that the parallel programme is one of the main income generators for the university and that officials have to “thoroughly evaluate the decision” to set alternatives and solutions for the financial loss the university will face afterwards.

According to university officials, the decision of lowering the raise on tuition fees by 50 per cent will cost the university around JD10 million a year. 

AMMAN – A total of 75 people have so far applied to fill the position of president of the University of Jordan (UJ), with the majority serving as UJ professors, according to an informed source. 

In remarks made to the UJ radio station, Adnan Badran, chairman of the university board of trustees and head of the committee entrusted to select a new principal, noted that the deadline for receiving applications will end within few days. 

He added that the applicants will be chosen according to specific criteria related to their managerial abilities and contribution to scientific research. 

“The panel has put 20 questions that tackle challenges facing the university, especially its financial problems, and ways to address them,” Badran highlighted. 

He expected 15 applicants to reach the interview stage.  

Mid last month, the Higher Education Council (HEC) decided not to renew Ekhleif Tarawneh’s presidency at UJ for a second term, amid

student protests against a decision by their university’s administration to raise tuition fees for the parallel and post-graduate programmes.

On the other hand, Badran underlined the need for universities’ boards to elect presidents instead
of the HEC.

“Universities have lost their independence after the establishment of the council, particularly by withdrawing the authority of universities’ boards to appoint presidents and specify the number of students enrolled in universities,” he said.

AMMAN — HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal, long-time Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), welcomed fellow Goodwill Ambassador, actor and activist Ashley Judd, to Jordan on Monday, according to a statement by the UNFPA  

Princess Basma has been a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for several years while Judd is undertaking her first mission with the UNFPA. Together they are using this opportunity to reiterate their support for the fund’s work in supporting the empowerment of women and girls and to publicise these efforts in Jordan and also in the regional response to the Syrian humanitarian crisis, the statement said.

UNFPA “believes, and is working to ensure, that every woman and girl have the right to access affordable reproductive healthcare and be effectively protected from gender-based violence”, the organisation said. 

In Jordan and in the Syria refugee crisis, UNFPA and partners are scaling up efforts to empower and improve the lives of both Jordanian and Syrian refugee women and youth, including communities impacted by the large number of refugees.  

The UNFPA Goodwill Ambassadors have demonstrated their “strong commitment to social justice, believing that the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women is at the heart of poverty eradication and sustainable development. They  advocate the right of empowering children to safely enter adulthood, and for ending all forms of gender-based violence everywhere”.

“Having seen United Nations programmes at work around the world directly touching and helping individual lives, it’s natural and rewarding to partner with UNFPA,” Judd was quoted as saying. 

“I’m honoured to have been asked, and joyfully accept the grave and ambitious responsibility of helping end all injustice. Being a girl is not a crime, it is a privilege. I am excited to do what I can to help girls and women everywhere contribute to their potential to the progress of all humankind,” she added.

AMMAN — Representatives of the Crown Prince Foundation’s board of trustees, the Association of Banks on Monday met to discuss cooperation means of future support to the “Hearing without Borders” initiative launched by HRH Crown Prince Hussein in 2014.

During the meeting, attended by representatives of several banks operating in the Kingdom, initiative director Sakher Al Fayez delivered a detailed presentation on the initiative’s goals and achievements within a plan that deals with various cases in accordance with a clear geographic distribution.

Three families also talked about how their children benefited from the initiative and their experience. 

AMMAN — The Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ) said on Monday that interest in the “#Talking_is_not_a_crime” campaign increased with the support of media institutions and social media activists, a CDFJ statement said.

The campaign calls for cancelling Article 11 of the Electronic Crime Law and raising awareness of the article’s restrictions on freedom of expression and the media, since it allows suspending and detaining reporters, journalists and social media activists for what they publish.

Followers of the campaign page  on Facebook amounted to more than 10,000 people and those who interact and comment on the page’s content amount to more than 36,000, the statement said.