Local

AMMAN — The Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ) on Monday called on the Emirati government to release Jordanian journalist Tayseer Al Najjar.

CDFJ said in a statement it is closely following up on Najjar’s detention in the UAE without having information on the reasons behind his arrest.

The centre said it is in direct contact with the Emirati foreign ministry, noting that it has been in touch the Emirati press association since Najjar’s detention.

AMMAN — Two people were injured on Monday when a fuel tanker overturned on the airport road, according to the Civil Defence Department (CDD).

The tanker was carrying around 32 tonnes of fuel, according to the CDD, whose cadres rushed to the scene and administered first aid for the injured. CDD personnel took the injured to Al Hussein Medical City where their condition was listed as fair. 

AMMAN — Jordan, represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, will participate in a Tuesday meeting of the international coalition against the Daesh terror group, which will be held in Rome.

Participants are scheduled to discuss the progress achieved so far through air strikes against the terror group, and the possibility of additional commitments to weaken and defeat it.

In addition to Jordan, senior diplomats from the US, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, the UK, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, the EU, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are scheduled to attend the meeting, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

AMMAN — Border Guards received 56 Syrian refugees during the past 24 hours, an army official source said on Monday.

Border Guards transferred the refugees to the shelters and camps, and Royal Medical Services cadres treated the injured, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — Higher Education Ministry Secretary General Hani Dmour on  Monday warned Jordanian students and parents of advertisements by fake universities, circulated through mobiles, social media and other media outlets.

Dmour called on students who wish to study abroad to make sure that the university is accredited by the ministry, noting that they can do so through checking the list of accredited universities available at www.mohe.gov.jo, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The Interior Ministry and the International Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) on Monday signed a cooperation agreement for a local governance and community resilience programme.

Interior Minister Salameh Hammad and VNG Director Peter Knip signed the agreement, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Hammad said the agreement is in line with country’s developmental goals. The agreement seeks to boost local governance, democratic practices, economic development and transparency.

AMMAN — Justice Ministry Secretary General Ahmad Jamalieh on Monday met with Maria Grazia, the special rapporteur on trafficking in persons at the UN human rights commissioner’s office, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Jamalieh reviewed the Kingdom’s efforts in the field of combating human trafficking and the role of the Anti-human Trafficking National Committee, which recently held its 15th meeting to follow up on the reports of its members. 

AMMAN — The Senate’s Education Committee on Monday met with Ayman Magableh, head of the committee of private college deans, and discussed some challenges facing these faculties. Senator Wajih Owais, head of the Upper House panel, noted that private colleges are suffering a “sharp decrease” in students, stressing the importance of finding suitable solutions according to national higher education priorities.

Magableh said the colleges can accommodate up to 15,330 students, but they currently have 7,645 students with an occupancy rate of less than 50 per cent, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. There are 41 colleges in Jordan, the total number of students in 10 of them is less than the number of students in one class at some public universities, Magableh noted.

AMMAN — Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) President Majid Tabaa and Civil Service Bureau President Khalaf Hmeisat on Monday discussed a proposed allowance for engineers working in the public sector, which was supposed to enter into force in the beginning of 2016 as agreed between the JEA and the government.

Tabaa said the allowance would contribute to the stability of the public sector, improving its role in projects and reducing brain drain, according to a JEA statement. He said the allowance would not pose a burden on the government, especially that there are around 4,000 engineers in the public sector. Hmeisat promised to follow up on the issue, praising the JEA’s efforts in securing jobs for its members.

AMMAN — Orange Jordan invested JD200 million in 2015 to upgrade its second and third generation networks, in addition to introducing Fourth Generation services across the Kingdom, the company’s CEO, Jerome Henique said Monday.

The company will continue its investments in 2016 to upgrade services and its network, Hénique said at a press conference. The company’s investments in the upcoming stage fall in line with its Essentials 2020 strategy under which the company is scheduled to invest more than JD300 million between 2015 and 2018, including a JD200 million investment in its fixed and mobile network infrastructure.