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AMMAN — Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury on Wednesday met with a UK parliamentary delegation, which commended the political and economic reform conducted by the government.

The delegates voiced their understanding of the Kingdom’s burdens in light of receiving a “huge number” of Syrian refugees. Fakhoury thanked the UK for its support, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The minister briefed the delegates on political reform measures in Jordan.

AMMAN — Under the banner of “Women4Palestine”, a coalition of women groups and activists have called for a “solidarity stand” to be held in Amman on Friday at 1pm in Al Nakheel Square, in Ras Al Ain.

The gathering aims to send a strong message of support to the Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation and its escalating violations of Palestinians’ fundamental rights, international laws and conventions, the organisers said in a statement.  

A special tribute will be paid to the women of Palestine for their engagement in resistance acts, the statement said. 

AMMAN — Two people were injured when a vehicle hit them in the Turra area, the Civil Defence Department (CDD) said Wednesday.

Irbid CDD cadres administered first aid to the injured and took them to Ramtha Public Hospital, where they were listed in fair condition, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In Karak’s industrial area, six people were injured when their vehicle overturned. CDD cadres administered first aid and took them to Karak Public Hospital where they were listed in fair condition.

Also on Wednesday, a three-vehicle collision resulted in injuring three people on Petra Street, which connects the Jordan University of Science and Technology with Irbid. 

AMMAN — A military source at the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army on Wednesday dismissed news carried by some media outlets on Jordanian-Egyptian cooperation in dispatching Jordanian military forces to Yemen.

The source stressed that media outlets should commit to accuracy when releasing information from non-official sources and should avoid publishing misleading news, adding that media outlets will be held accountable, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

AMMAN — Jordan and South Korea signed an arrangement and a soft loan agreement worth $12.8 million (around JD9.08 million) on Wednesday to complete the implementation of the Research and Training Reactor Construction Project (JRTR).

The loan will fund necessary additional safety features to the reactor in order to satisfy international standards and to add essential facilities necessary for the operation of the reactor, said Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury.

The loan agreement completes a previous $70 million (around JD49.6 million) soft loan agreement signed in 2010. The Kingdom is committed to paying the loan over 29 years, with a 10-year grace period and a 0.2 per cent interest rate.

Speaking at the signing of the agreements with Korean Ambassador Choi Hong-ghi and Seong-Hyeog Yim, executive director of the Export-Import Bank of Korea, Fakhoury highlighted the significance of the reactor, located at the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

The reactor is important for establishing nuclear technology infrastructure that could put atomic energy at the forefront of the Kingdom’s energy consumption, he said, adding that the JRTR will be the focal point of the projected Nuclear Science and Technology Centre.

Currently, the Kingdom imports 97 per cent of its energy needs, but it is increasingly investing in alternative energy resources in a bid to reduce dependence on foreign and non-renewable resources.

“This centre will play an important role in educating the upcoming generation of Jordanian nuclear engineers and in building a workforce that can help with the construction and operation of nuclear power plants,” the minister said, underscoring the centre’s potential ability to enhance infrastructure in local industrial, agricultural and medical fields.

Fakhoury commended Korea’s support to Jordan’s development, recognising the country as a key donor to critical sectors that have been under pressure due to the Syrian refugee crisis, including the water sector.

He said that since 1992 Jordan has received seven soft loans from Korea to implement development projects of national priority, noting that four projects funded by Korean loans worth $184.4 million (around JD130.8 million) are currently under implementation.

Korea also provided the Kingdom with grants worth $36.36 million (some JD25.79) between 2004 and 2015, according to the minister.

Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Khaled Toukan said 94 per cent of the JRTR has been accomplished, and the project is expected to be fully operating by the end of the upcoming summer.

Several testing measures are currently being implemented, he said.

The Korean ambassador highlighted his country’s commitment towards providing financial and technical assistance to Jordan in all fields.

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania met on Wednesday with the members of the Jerasa Charitable Society for Women in Jerash, some 48km north of Amman.

The Queen commended the society’s work, particularly in the area of providing solar energy units to power homes of families with limited income as a means of reducing monthly electric bills, according to a statement from her office.

Queen Rania was received by Jalela Smadi, president of the society’s administrative committee, and met with several board members who briefed her on the society’s mandate, achievements and future plans.

Smadi said through its work, the society was able to install solar energy cells to power 18 homes in the area. It has also received more than 50 further applications for solar panel installations. 

The Queen commended their efforts and encouraged them to continue investing in solar energy.

Her Majesty also met with and spoke to several people who benefited from the society’s solar energy, solar heating and water harvesting loans. 

The beneficiaries were able to install these systems and benefit 48 families, with the support of the Jordan River Foundation (JRF). The beneficiaries were also able to dig 114 water harvesting wells in the area.

The Queen also listened to a briefing on the work of the society’s productive kitchen and kindergarten facilities, currently teaching 178 children, the statement said.

After the meeting, Her Majesty chatted with young volunteers from the local community commission and initiatives, who spoke about their activities. 

With around 42 volunteers, the commission has worked with more than 1,000 young people and implemented 12 programmes covering a variety of issues such as youth empowerment, refugees, English language skills, and a reading club.

Queen Rania also stopped by the society’s computer lab, and attended part of a graphic design workshop. 

Her Majesty also observed a first aid training class on fire prevention and first aid basics, as well as a recycling workshop on how to recycle damaged home appliances and furniture.

The society was established in 2000 and has benefited around 8,000 individuals so far. 

The society’s general assembly consists of 75 women and seven board members from the area, and has received funding, grants and revolving loans from the Mercy Corps aid agency and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

Projects implemented by the society include a productive kitchen, awareness lectures, a computer lab, a revolving loan fund, and support for underprivileged families, the statement said. 

The society also aims to provide the community with income-generating projects, conduct vocational training courses, offer cultural and social lectures and workshops, and provide financial aid and in-kind support for underprivileged families.

AMMAN — Border Guards on Tuesday foiled an infiltration attempt by a person who sought to cross into Jordan from a neighbouring country, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted an official military source as saying on Wednesday.

The infiltrator was identified as European. Meanwhile, a total of 10,443 palm-size sheets of hashish and over 3 million narcotic pills, identified as Captagon were seized during the past 48 hours during an attempt to smuggle them from Syria to Jordan, Petra quoted a military source as saying on Wednesday.

The official said this was among the largest quantities of drugs seized by Border Guards.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Wednesday met with Sweden’s Minister for Public Administration Ardalan Shekarabi, who is currently visiting the Kingdom with a business delegation. Shekarabi’s visit comes after Ensour’s visit to Sweden in August where he met with several officials, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During the meeting, attended by Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Maha Ali and Swedish Ambassador Helena Gröndahl Rietz, the premier voiced Jordan’s interest in improving economic and commercial cooperation.

Ensour noted that Swedish companies have a long history in commercial dealings with the Middle East, voicing hope that the visit would contribute to increasing the trade volume between the two countries.

AMMAN — Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh on Wednesday stressed the importance of solidarity with Palestinians in the face of recurrent Israeli violations.

Tarawneh made these remarks during a meeting with Nayef Hawatmeh, secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He said Jordan puts the Palestinian cause at the top of its priorities and ensures its support in all possible ways. Hawatmeh commended the Lower House’s role in supporting Palestine.

AMMAN — HRH Princess Muna on Wednesday attended the opening ceremony of an international conference of internal medicine at Al Hussein Medical City.

The conference, held with the participation of doctors from Jordan and abroad, seeks to acquaint specialists with developments in internal medicine, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The princess also attended a medical conference, held jointly with the Royal College of Physicians/ London.

On the sidelines, she inaugurated a medical exhibition of companies sponsoring the event, which showcased the latest medical equipment. Also on Wednesday, Princess Muna, president of the Jordanian Nursing Council, acted as patron of a ceremony on the occasion of Mental Health Day.

During the ceremony, Health Minister Ali Hiasat said Jordan has put forward solutions to address challenges facing the mental health sector, including the lack of qualified staff and the scarcity of mental health centres across the Kingdom.