Local

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday telephoned Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and checked on his health.

In the telephone conversation, King Abdullah checked on the health of the Kuwaiti emir and wished him the best of health, according to a Royal Court statement.

AMMAN — A Royal Decree was issued on Wednesday, appointing Ahmad Sweilmin as a senator as of the same day, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Sweilmin previously served as Gendarmerie Department director before being referred to retirement in May.

AMMAN — Border Guards on Tuesday foiled an infiltration attempt by a man who attempted to cross from Syria into Jordan, an official source at the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army was quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as saying on Wednesday.

The Border Guards carried out the rules of engagement followed in such cases, apprehending the man and referring him to the concerned authorities. Border Guards also received 115 Syrian refugees during the past 24 hours and sent them to shelters and camps, an army source said Wednesday. 

AMMAN — The Senate on Wednesday endorsed its reply to His Majesty King Abdullah’s Speech from the Throne, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Senate also continued electing members of its permanent committees. Also on Wednesday, the Senate approved the Lower House’s version of the draft decentralisation law, which removed a constitutional flaw that had led to its rejection by the King.

The Senate also approved draft amendments to the Agriculture Law as referred from the Lower House, Petra reported.

AMMAN — Foreign Ministry Secretary General Mohammad Bani Yaseen on Wednesday received a copy of the credentials of newly appointed Qatari Ambassador to Jordan Bandar Al Attiyah.

The two officials discussed ties and opportunities for cooperation at the ceremony, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The Social Development Ministry’s anti-vagrancy personnel detained 3,869 beggars in Amman since the beginning of 2015 and until November 21, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Wednesday.

A total of 332 of these alleged vagrants are non-Jordanians, according to sources at the ministry.

AMMAN — The State Security Court on Wednesday convicted a man in a “brokerage firm scam case”, handing him a 14-year prison sentence, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The suspect was also ordered to pay JD1.641 million to his victims.

AMMAN — A 10-year child fell from a three-storey building in Madaba on Wednesday.

The girl, who has Saudi nationality, was admitted to the intensive care unit at Al Nadim Hospital and her condition was listed as critical, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The hospital’s director, Wisam Karadsheh, said the girl has fractures to different parts of her body.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Municipal Affairs has referred two suspected fraud involving a municipality to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Wednesday.

The first case involves the alleged forgery of a local committee’s decision, while the other case involves housing companies using unofficial stamps instead of the required permits by the municipality, Petra quoted Abdulfattah Al Ibrahim, head of the ministry’s inspection department, as saying.

AMMAN (JT) — Anti-Narcotics Department personnel on Tuesday arrested seven suspects in several raids in south Amman, a Public Security Department statement said Wednesday.

The suspects were found in possession of two automatic weapons and various amounts of narcotics, according to the statement.