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AMMAN — Two police officers were injured on Wednesday at Ghor Al Safi Police Station when a “dangerous wanted suspect”, who was being interrogated, seized a gun from a police officer and started firing randomly, according to the Public Security Department (PSD).

One police officer, a lieutenant, was transferred to the King Hussein Medical Centre, where he was listed in critical condition, while the other was reported in fair condition, a PSD statement reported.

Police officers at the station returned fire and shot the suspect dead, the PSD said, noting that a special investigation committee was formed to look into the incident.

AMMAN — Awqaf Minister Hayel Dawood has participated in the annual “Islamic unity” conference held recently in Tehran, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Wednesday.

In a speech he delivered at the conference’s opening ceremony, Dawood stressed Jordan’s stance in calling for good relations among Arab and Muslim countries and focusing on the importance of resolving conflicts through diplomatic channels without sectarian clashes.

He stressed Jordan’s role in promoting the peaceful image of Islam to the world and safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. 

AMMAN — An initiative by Yarmouk University students to help a street vendor near the university’s north gate has grabbed public attention and encouraged others to contribute to the cause, the Public Security Department’s radio station said on Wednesday.

Following up on the gesture from the Irbid-based university's students, Amen FM visited the old street vendor in the northern governorate.

Shadi Jaber from the radio station said Abu Bassam is a Syrian man in his sixties who lives in a rented house with a few pieces of furniture and six children. 

The rent costs JD200 per month. He does not own a heater at home and limps when he walks, Jaber said.

When people heard the news on the radio and the photo of the old man was circulated on social media, residents of Irbid and Amman participated in contributing to donations to buy what Abu Bassam sells and support him.

“We have so far received five heaters, JD200 worth of kerosene for the cold weather and a salary of JD100 every month,” Jaber told The Jordan Times. 

It was only until Wednesday that Abu Bassam knew about the students’ initiative to help him, as they had informed him before that the toys they bought from him are for orphans on the occasion of holidays. 

Abu Bassam commended the efforts of the students and those who participated in the initiative and fulfilled the needs and expenses of his family, according to Amen FM. 

In previous remarks to The Jordan Times, students said the vendor arrives at the same spot near the university every day in the morning regardless of the weather condition to sell the toys he displays on a piece of cloth.

The initiative founder, Oday Sayaheen, commended the efforts of Amen FM in covering humanitarian gestures around the Kingdom.

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Wednesday announced a state of maximum alert to deal with the potential harsh weather conditions forecast to prevail as of Thursday morning.

GAM also announced that Friday will be a workday for its sanitation personnel to collect garbage before the expected snowfall at night, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Relevant GAM departments reviewed their procedures to deal with the weather, which included introducing new vehicles to the municipality’s fleet such as salt spreaders, snow sweepers and suction pumps.

GAM urged the public to call its centres in case of an emergency on 5359970 and 5359971.

A polar front is expected to affect the Kingdom on Thursday, bringing heavy rain and snow and causing temperatures to dip well below their annual average, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said on Tuesday. 

On Wednesday, the JMD warned of low visibility due to fog, slippery roads, flood formation and gusty winds, with a speed expected to reach 50-60 kilometres per hour in hilly areas.

AMMAN — Consumers continued to queue at gas stations and bakeries, although sector leaders confirmed on Wednesday that basic commodities will be available during the harsh weather conditions expected to start on Thursday.

The demand on bread rose by 50 per cent over the daily average on Tuesday and it started to slow down at 3am, Bakery Owners Association President Abdul Ilah Hamawi told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Hamawi also said that people started queuing since early Wednesday, adding that the majority of them purchased large amounts of bread in preparation for the polar front, which is expected to bring rain and snow in some areas.

"People should have a high degree of awareness and not buy more than their needs. We should learn from our mistakes," he warned.

In February, consumption of bread rose eightfold during a snowstorm, as consumers bought some 65 million loaves, a quantity sufficient to feed 25 million people.

"We have a firm plan in place, in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to secure the needs of consumers," Hamawi noted, and all bakeries will be open around the clock to serve them.

Gas Station Owners Association President Fahed Al Fayez said the demand on gas cylinders is higher than other products such as diesel and kerosene due to the expected decrease in prices on Friday.

The prices of fuel products for January are expected to be announced on Thursday. A government pricing committee meets monthly to adjust prices in a manner that corresponds to changes in oil prices on the international market. 

"I believe that the demand on diesel and kerosene will be very high on Friday. All of these items are available in the market," Fayez noted, urging customers to be patient if there are any shortages.

Commenting on consumers' urge to buy more bread and fuel ahead of expected emergencies, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Philadelphia University Adnan Toubasi said it is a reflection of how some people cope with expectations.

Those who have a high degree of anxiety and stress do not behave in a reasonable way, Toubasi explained, while people who are psychologically more stable can deal smoothly with it.

The expert told The Jordan Times that the way people deal with such emergencies is connected to feelings of contentment, as opposed to selfishness. 

People who are more satisfied can cooperate and buy only what they need, he added.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday stressed the government’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector, and working to arrive at solutions for the various challenges facing it. 

The premier made the statement while chairing a meeting of the Higher Agricultural Council, during which discussions focused on proposed amendments to the draft agriculture law, which is currently in Parliament.

The council also endorsed broad lines for the 2016-2025 national strategy on agricultural development, which is the fruit of joint efforts that have taken the country’s new 10-year socio-economic vision, dubbed Jordan 2025, into account. 

Agriculture Minister Akef Zu’bi briefed the gathering on the strategy’s main projects and ways to boost the agricultural sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product, and increase the percentage of Jordanian workers in this field, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

At the meeting, Ensour noted that the strategy should cover all agriculture-related issues, including ways to deal with desertification, boosting veterinary services and increasing fisheries’ production. 

He also stressed the government’s commitment to safeguarding agricultural lands, noting that the decision to allocate 7,000 dunums of Treasury lands in the hilly areas overlooking the Jordan Valley to be distributed to Jordan Valley residents before March is in line with the government’s efforts to preserve farming lands. 

Under no circumstances will the government accept that agricultural lands be used for building and housing purposes, the premier noted. 

AMMAN — The Public Sector Development Ministry has released a report on matching human resources with their institutional tasks and roles at the Jordan Academy of Arabic, a statement released Tuesday quoted Minister Khleef Al Khawaldeh as saying.

The report recommended studying the right number of employees required for each position. Moreover, recommendations include announcing job vacancies to supply the academy’s needs of needed specialisations. The report was sent to Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Khawaldeh said.

AMMAN — The Economic and Social Council on Tuesday held a dialogue session to discuss the projected Jordan investment fund.

Former finance minister Mohammad Abu Hammour said the fund is aimed at attracting investments from banks, Arab sovereign funds, private sector institutions and individuals to contribute to national development projects in Jordan, according to a council statement.

He also expected that implementing Jordan Vision 2025 will require more than JD20 billion in investments to create more jobs. Council President Munther Sharé said the fund has to enjoy transparency, and its work has to be subject to internal and external international accountability standards.

AMMAN — Wednesday marks the sixth anniversary of the passing of Captain Sharif Ali Bin Zeid Al Oun.

He died in the line of duty while participating in the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army’s mission in Afghanistan, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — Veteran Islamic leaders plan to resign “soon” from the Islamic Action Front (IAF) to form a new political party that is likely to add to the fragmentation the mother group, Muslim Brotherhood, has been experiencing.

The envisioned party will not be associated with newly established Muslim Brotherhood Society, a splinter whose members have similar ideas.

Leaders of the new alliance, dubbed “the Group of Elders”, include Abdul Latif Arabiyat, Ishaq Farhan and Abdul Hamid Qudah, among other veteran Islamists.

“Preparations for the party are under way and we are conducting in-depth studies in this regard,” said Ghaith Qudah, a member of the group, who was recently dismissed from the IAF, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition group.

Qudah told The Jordan Times that the “planned” party will not have an Islamic identity, but will be  “a national party with a diverse membership base”.

Once the plan is solid, the IAF is expected to witness more resignations and withdrawals.

Currently, the IAF has 800 registered members, with 30 branches across the Kingdom. In addition to the registered members, there are more than 4,000 supporting members.

Both members of Zamzam Initiative and the society are also preparing to form a new party.

Zamzam is a moderate socio-political movement launched in 2012 by the liberal wing of the Muslim Brotherhood and has attracted other figures from the broader political spectrum. 

Jamil Dheisat, spokesperson of the society, said: “We hope to form the most influential party” here.

“It will not be traditional, and will attract members from different ideologies, with focus on women and youth,” Dheisat told The Jordan Times. He added that members of Zamzam and the society are holding meetings and visits to the governorates to spread the word about their planned party.