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AMMAN — A woman in her thirties died on Friday in childbirth at Princess Raya Hospital in Irbid, and a committee was formed to investigate the incident, hospital director Qasim Mayas said Saturday.

The committee, which includes obstetricians and the legal chancellor at Irbid health directorate, will present a detailed report on the woman’s condition and the circumstances of her delivery, Mayas told the Jordan News Agency, Petra. He added the body was transferred to a forensic department to identify the detailed cause of death.

The doctor who was overseeing the delivery only operated on the woman after she died to save the baby, Mayas said, noting that family members of the deceased have filed a complaint with the police against the doctor, according to Petra.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday denounced a terrorist attack that targeted Al Haidarieh Mosque in Saihat area of Qatif city that killed and injured several civilians. 

In a cable sent to Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King Abdullah expressed his sympathies over the incident and his solidarity with Saudi Arabia, wishing the injured a speedy recovery, according to a Royal Court statement.  

Also on Saturday, the government denounced the terrorist attack, which occurred in the eastern Saudi province of Qatif.

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said the attack proves once again that terrorists have no goal other than to kill, spread terror and incite sedition, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

Momani, who is also  the government’s spokesperson, stressed Jordan’s support of Saudi Arabia in confronting terrorism and offered his condolences to the Saudi government and the families of the victims.

The attack came two days after the start of commemorations of Ashura.

The day of Ashura occurs on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram. For Shiite Muslims, the day is commemorated as a day of mourning honouring the death of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, at the Battle of Karbala. It is also a non-compulsory day of fasting for Sunni Muslims, emulating Prophet Mohammad’s fasting on the  day to celebrate Prophet Moses’ leading of the Jews to safety from the pharaoh.

AMMAN — Jordan on Friday condemned Israeli breaches in Al Haram Al Sharif and Al Aqsa Mosque, warning against any damage or alteration to the historic and religious heritage site in occupied Jerusalem.

Jordan's Permanent Representative at the United Nations Dina Kawar underlined the urgent need to address the situation in the occupied territories and halt Israel's practices against the Palestinians, as well as the occupying state's attempts to change the status quo in Jerusalem, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In her remarks at a UN Security Council (UNSC) session to discuss ongoing developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and measures to protect the Palestinian people, Kawar urged the UNSC to shoulder its responsibility in halting Israeli attacks on unarmed Palestinians in the territories. 

The ambassador called for taking effective measures to save the Palestinians and prevent the reoccurrence of these attacks.

She added at the meeting, called by Jordan on behalf of the Arab Group, that Israel’s security, and the security of its citizens, cannot be achieved at the expense of the Palestinian people and through “iron fist” control and punishment, both individual and collective, targeting the innocent.

Kawar reminded the UNSC that Palestinian lives are not cheaper than Israeli lives, and that the current Israeli aggression will not ensure Israel’s safety and security.

She also called on the UNSC to consider options for legal protection of Palestinians in the occupied lands in a way that can provide suitable ground for achieving a just and comprehensive solution and the end of occupation.

The envoy further expressed Jordan’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding its historical and legal right to protect Al Haram Al Sharif, based on His Majesty King Abdullah’s custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, according to Petra. 

Security Council members expressed appreciation for Jordan’s call to convene the session, which they described as important, according to Petra.

US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said that her country is worried about the current situation and denounced the violence in the West Bank and Gaza.

She noted that attacks on civilians are unjustifiable and that the US is committed to working towards a two-state solution, highlighting that the current situation highlights the importance of working to achieve the two-state solution, Petra reported.

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour told the meeting that the issue of protection for the Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation “has become more urgent than any time before”, according to The Associated Press.

He warned that the escalating violence “threatens that the conflict will become a religious one that will destroy everything” and called on the council to implement Resolution 904 adopted after the Hebron Massacre, when Baruch Goldstein massacred 29 Muslim worshippers at Al Ibrahimi Mosque.

Resolution 904 calls on Israel, as an occupying power, “to continue to take and implement measures, including... the confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers” and “calls for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians throughout the occupied territory, including... a temporary or international foreign presence...” according to the UNSC website.

Mansour urged the Security Council to immediately provide international protection for the Palestinian people, AFP reported.

Vitaly Churkin, Russian representative to the UN, said that the current situation has to be understood in light of the occupation, which has been in existence since 1967. He blamed Israel for the escalation of violence, emphasising its responsibility as an occupying force, Petra reported.

Nigerian Permanent Representative to the UN, Joy Ogwu, expressed her country’s support for the two-state solution and said that all relevant parties must commit to signed agreements, relevant international resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Angola’s permanent representative, Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins, called on settlers to stop provocation and violence, and highlighted the importance of revived negotiations towards a two-state solution.

At the same meeting, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, assistant secretary general for political affairs at the UN, blamed Israel’s occupation and the diminishing prospects for achieving a Palestinian state for transforming “long-simmering Palestinian anger into outright rage”, AP reported.

He told the Security Council that the “stark reality” in the occupied territories has been compounded by increasingly dire economic conditions, including bleak employment prospects for Palestinian youth and expanding settlement activity. He warned Israel that the current crisis cannot be resolved by security measures alone, adding that “reckless statements” from both Israeli and Palestinian extremists were main instigators of violence.

He also blamed “the apparent heavy-handed approach by Israeli security services” and “the impact of social media” for the escalation, AP reported.

In a separate occurrence, US Secretary of State John Kerry called both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas late on Friday, expressing his deep concern about the violence and his support for efforts to restore calm. He also maintained that the US would remain engaged with both leaders to restore calm, according to AFP.

State Department Spokesman John Kirby described knife attacks by both Israelis and Palestinians as “terrorism” during a press briefing, adding that Israeli forces might have used excessive force. Kirby faced fire from Israeli officials for his comments, but President Barack Obama called on all parties to respect religious sites in Jerusalem, AFP reported.

Recent confrontations erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinian Muslims when the latter were prevented from attending prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque. Israeli authorities have prevented men under the age of 40 from entering Al Haram Al Sharif.

Since October 1, seven Israelis and more than 30 Palestinians, including several children, have been killed in the confrontations or Israeli attacks, according to the AFP. 

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Friday telephoned US Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and discussed with them developments in the occupied Palestinian territories. In particular, Judeh, the US and EU officials discussed the “dangerous developments in the region and the continued Israeli violations at holy sites in occupied Jerusalem”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Informed sources said Jordan is expected to hold a three-way summit gathering Kerry, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over ways to stop the escalating violence, triggered by frequent storming of Al Aqsa Mosque by Israeli extremists under the protection of Israeli occupation forces.

AMMAN — Upon an invitation from His Majesty King Abdullah, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi is scheduled to begin a state visit to Jordan on Tuesday, a Royal Court statement said Saturday.

Essebsi is scheduled to hold talks with His Majesty that focus on bilateral relations and the latest regional and international developments.

During his two-day visit, Essebsi will also meet with several senior officials, the statement said.

Earlier this month, Tunisia's National Dialogue Quartet won the Nobel Peace Prize for helping build democracy in the cradle of the Arab Spring.

The quartet of the Tunisian General Labour Union, the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, the Tunisian Human Rights League, and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers was formed in the summer of 2013.

It helped support the democratisation process when it was in danger of collapse, the Norwegian Nobel committee said in its citation, according to Reuters.

AMMAN — Google on Saturday expressed keenness to increase cooperation with Jordanian developers as the Kingdom was ranked the Middle East’s top app development destination.

Speaking during a session at the Jordan Gaming Summit 2015, Rachad Saddi, mobile apps consultant at Google, said there is a huge potential that needs to be tapped in the field of app development in Jordan.

“We at Google are looking forward to having increased cooperation with app developers in Jordan, which has a great potential to lead as well in the digital gaming industry,” Saddi said at the summit, which is held by the King Abdullah II Fund for Development.

The summit, which concludes Sunday, attracted more than 500 local and international experts, developers, designers, school and university students, and industry stakeholders.

Stressing the need for more localised content across the Arab world — one of the fastest-growing regions in terms of game and app usage — Saddi noted that Google is keen on working with Jordanian developers and providing them with the necessary means to address this issue as demand on apps and games is on the rise.

According to Google, mobile users spend around 36 hours per month on apps and around 80-88 per cent of the time spent on mobile devices is spent using apps.

The figures showed that some 180 billion apps were downloaded worldwide since the beginning of this year, generating some $41 billion in revenues.

Saddi also shared tips with Jordanian developers on how to create apps that can make it to several markets.

“Apps need to be user-friendly. Developers should decide who their audience is and they have to keep their games simple,” he said, adding that listening to users’ feedback is crucial for retaining them, as international studies indicate that 66 per cent of apps in app stores have never been downloaded.

Developers should also test their games repeatedly and on several devices and operating systems before the actual launch to ensure that they work perfectly, said Saddi.

"About 20 per cent of downloaded apps are only used once, while 95 per cent of downloaded apps are abandoned within one month,” he added.

The fifth edition of the Jordan Gaming Summit 2015, which is held under the theme “How to Grow”, witnessed the participation of several speakers and experts from prominent companies in the digital gaming industry, including  Sony, Dice and Stugan.

AMMAN — A 12-year-old child died on Saturday when a vehicle hit him on the desert road in the Southern Badia region, an official source told the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Maan Hospital Director Walid Ruwad said the child arrived dead at the hospital and was referred to the forensic doctor in order to determine the cause of death.

On Friday, a 20-year-old man died and two others were injured in a collision between a public transport bus and a car in Al Rasheed neighbourhood in Zarqa, according to the media centre of the Civil Defence Department.

The condition of the injured was listed as moderate, according to Petra.

AMMAN — The Public Security Department (PSD) on Saturday announced the King Hussein Bridge working hours for Sunday and Monday.

On Sunday, the bridge will be closed to passengers at 8pm, and the last diplomats, official delegations, and UN employees’ bus will leave at 8pm, whereas the last Arab and VIP buses will leave at 5pm, according to a PSD statement.

On Monday, the last Arab, tourist and VIP buses will leave at 9pm, the statement added.

AMMAN — “Running is more than a sport — it’s a way of connecting with people worldwide who are committed to positive change, both for themselves and for their communities,” said Moath Al Khawaldeh, a 26-year-old Jordanian long distance runner and humanitarian.

Since 2012 Khawaldeh has been competing at many international marathons and half marathons trying to book his ticket to the Rio Olympics in 2016.

He combines two roles — one of an aspiring runner and another as a promoter of peace, collaboration and tolerance in a world divided by hatred, intolerance and bigotry.

The runner started volunteering with the Jordan Olympic Committee in 2008 after completing high school and continued volunteering whenever he would be back in Jordan. 

With a master’s degree in human resources management and labour relations, Khawaldeh joined the nonprofit sector at the United Nations in New York.

“I always hoped to be able to work for an organisation that uses sports to bring people together, because that’s what I really believe in,” he emphasised. “The most well-known organisation in that area is Right To Play, but I was really excited to hear that here in Jordan we had Generations For Peace [GFP], our own Jordanian organisation working to use sports for peace building on an international scale.”

The marathon runner mixes his love for long distance races and social development of different communities.

“Now I’m working for GFP as a programmes officer and I help our volunteers in the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa to organise peace building programmes for youths in their communities,” he underlined.

“Sometimes it’s a challenge to balance everything — work and training for marathons — but I see the two as part of the same goal of using sport for positive change.” 

Like many young Jordanians his first love was football before he saw a brochure in 2008 advertising the Amman Life Run.

Winning fifth place out of 300 participants on the half marathon was the trigger that made him feel he could become “a real runner”.

“Long distance running for me was a hobby before I went to the US and started to compete in college,” he said.

Khawaldeh also became the promoter of the Beirut Marathon. “Running in Beirut is popular and enjoys support from ordinary Lebanese people, not only from athletes.”

Recently, at the Berlin Marathon on September 27, Khawaldeh achieved his best result — clocking in 02:30:57.

“I’m planning to take part in the Beirut Marathon in November and I’m trying now to encourage Jordanians to run there with other athletes from the Middle East and all over the world, embracing the marathon’s message of togetherness, tolerance, and positivity,” Khawaldeh said, noting that physical fitness is often overlooked by many Jordanians.

“While Americans spend a lot of time and money on trying to get fit, Jordanians focus more on their appearance. Sometimes I smile when I remember running in Central Park with thousands of others on a weekday morning, even in the cold New York winter,” the athlete said.

The marathon man does not slow down; he has lots of plans for the upcoming period both with his NGO work and as a sportsman.

“I’m currently working on the strategic plan for my Run For Peace project, where I’m hoping to bring together kids from different areas of Amman for a running club in order to help talented runners in Jordan develop their abilities.”

In this recent photo, solar panels are seen on a street in Amman. Sahab Municipality is planning to switch to solar power to reduce energy consumption (Photo by Osama Aqarbeh)

AMMAN — Sahab Municipality has started a plan to shift to solar energy in generating its electricity needs, a project that will make it “the first municipality in the Middle East” to become a green city, a municipality official said Thursday.

Targeted buildings in the project, which is implemented in collaboration with Future Pioneers NGO, include the municipality’s headquarters, its cultural centre, Hashemite Park, the municipal stadium and the bus terminal, in addition to four public schools and two main mosques, Haneen Hassouneh, head of the municipality’s development unit, told The Jordan Times in a phone interview.

“The project is aimed at saving energy, increasing the municipality’s efficiency by replacing regular lighting devices with energy-saving LED units and enhancing Sahab Municipality’s chances to join the EU Covenant of Mayors,” Hassouneh explained.

The covenant involves local and regional authorities voluntarily committing to increasing energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources in their territories, according to its website. 

“By their commitment, covenant signatories aim to meet and exceed the European Union 20 per cent carbon dioxide reduction objective by 2020.”

The municipality has to deliver a report to the covenant on its solar energy project in early 2016, showing the expected power saving and carbon dioxide reduction rates, Hassouneh said, noting the municipality had received a preliminary approval to join.

The European Union supported the municipality with 700,000 euros (around JD565,000) necessary to finance the project, she said, adding that the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) recently floated a tender for companies interested in implementing the 30-month scheme.

Bids will be examined on October 29 to decide the winning company, which will buy and install the LED units. 

The units are expected to be ready in Sahab, some 22km southeast of Amman, before the end of 2016, the municipality official added.

“Power-saving rates at the municipality headquarters, library and court building are expected to reach 50 per cent of the current power bill,” Hassouneh said, citing studies released by the RSS’ National Energy Research Centre, a project partner.

In addition to replacing traditional light bulbs with LED units, solar cells for generating electricity will also be installed at the municipality building, the schools and the mosques, she noted.

Saving rates at the schools and mosques will reach 100 per cent, 25 per cent at the cultural centre, and 20 per cent at the town’s main street, while the bus station and Hashemite Park will be lighted for the first time using LED units, according to Hassouneh.

A solar-energy powered GPS system will be installed at the entrances and exits of the bus terminal to show the nearest routes between two destinations within the municipality borders, added the engineer.

“Since the announcement of the scheme, the municipality has so far held eight workshops for local residents, mainly women, to raise their awareness on the importance of saving energy by reducing electricity consumption,” Hassouneh said.