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AMMAN – Amman may "soon" host a three-way meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and officials from the Palestinian Authority and Israel, as the US top diplomat is travelling to the region in an attempt to ease the mounting tension between Palestinians and Israelis. 

An official source confirmed to The Jordan Times Thursday that there are ongoing discussions between all parties to arrange for the meeting in the capital. 

He stopped short of giving further details. 

In his daily press briefing, US State Department Spokesperson John Kirby told journalists that Kerry intends to travel to the region “soon” as he is “deeply concerned by the continued escalated violence”. 

Asked whether there is any discussion of Kerry convening a summit between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jordan, Kirby declined to give information on the agenda of Kerry during his trip to the Middle East. 

“I’m not going to get into specific agenda items when he travels, so I have nothing to report on this… I don’t have any travel announcements to get to today, so I just don’t have any details,” the spokesperson said.

Spiralling violence in the occupied Palestinian territories began on October 1 over Israeli provocative measures in Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque. Palestinian youths launched a wave of knife stabbings against Israelis, and Israeli occupation forces responded with excessive force that has claimed the lives of at least 30 Palestinians and wounded hundreds. 

Seven Israelis have been killed and others wounded in the attacks.

HRH Prince Ali formally submitted his candidature to be FIFA president on Thursday, pledging to restore the reputation of world football's scandal-ridden governing body.

The election to replace departing leader Sepp Blatter is currently scheduled for February 26 but FIFA is discussing delaying it with its executive committee holding a crisis meeting on Sunday at its headquarters in Zurich.

Blatter and UEFA boss Michel Platini, who also hopes to take the top job, were suspended by FIFA's ethics committee last week. FIFA is engulfed by corruption claims and facing criminal investigations in Switzerland and the United States.

"This time of crisis at FIFA is an opportunity for positive change," Prince Ali said in a statement. "Many good ideas have emerged in the current discussion over FIFA's future.

"A better future will only come if ideas turn into action — and that will only happen if FIFA has the right leadership.

"I am confident that FIFA can emerge from this difficult period with its reputation restored and become an organisation that is once again viewed with respect."

A 2011 payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2.1 million) from FIFA to Frenchman Platini is part of a Swiss criminal investigation into Blatter, according to Swiss judicial authorities.

UEFA boss Platini has said the payment was for his work under contract for FIFA as an adviser to Swiss-born Blatter between 1999 and 2002, and the nine-year payment delay was due to FIFA's financial situation. Both men have denied any wrongdoing.

A delay in the election of a new president would give Platini more time to appeal against his 90-day provisional ban and stay in the race for the presidency. The ban, together with a possible 45-day extension and the length of any appeals process, are seen as major obstacles to his campaign.

Without Platini in the field, the prince’s chances of winning could rise significantly. As it stands, the deadline for nominations is October 26 and prospective candidates face a FIFA integrity check.

The prince, supported at the time by Platini, lost to Blatter in May’s presidential election. But Blatter announced four days later that he would lay down his mandate as the corruption crisis engulfed FIFA.

AMMAN — Arab artists, academics and poets unearthed a history of women’s prominence in art, business and religion at a panel held Wednesday in Amman in conjunction with Gallery 14’s ongoing “Woman I” exhibition.

The panellists — Jordanian poet and human rights activist Zuleikha Aburisha, Iraqi professor Zeena Sultan, and Jordan-based artist Muhanna Durra — discussed how women are represented in art and life at the event, which coincided with the worldwide Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Aburisha noted that not only were there around 250 to 300 female poets active in the early ages of Arabic literature, but a long tradition of Arabic poetry attests to women’s impact.

“The images depicted of women in Arabic poetry show their importance and the way they were [respected] in local communities. Arab poets throughout history present their appreciation of women, each in their own style,” she said.

“The woman has a special place in art... she has even been a goddess, according to Greek narratives,” said Durra. He added, “Women are full of beauty, which is why we always link art with women.”

Sultan stressed that women were the first to start businesses in history and that their careers in different historical periods spanned trade, agriculture and religious roles.

Women can take credit for innovations such as the use of herbs in medicine, and tools for constructing houses and manufacturing furniture, she said.

The Iraqi professor added that many women served their countries in various capacities during the two world wars in the 20th century.

Sultan also highlighted the celebration of women in many religions as individuals and as loving mothers.

The panellists and attendees debated how art can depict women so as not to portray them as “objects”.

An academic who attended the event contrasted women’s power in certain eras of history — as in the ancient Nabataean kingdom that once surrounded Petra — with their struggles in parts of the world today.  

“[The Nabataean period] was a time when women enjoyed full rights, but nowadays women can’t even leave their money to their children,” she lamented.

“Women are the source of beauty and empowerment, so we must work on giving them back their self-confidence,” said Sally Khalil, another attendee.

Organisers of Gallery 14’s “Woman I” exhibition said they aimed to highlight how women contribute to their countries and to demonstrate the range of depictions of women in art.

The exhibition, showcasing the work of 13 Arab artists, will continue until November 12.

AMMAN — The medical bill for treating around 800 Yemeni war patients in Jordanian hospitals has so far reached JD15 million, a sector leader said Thursday.

Yemeni authorities have so far paid almost half the bill, according to Fawzi Hammouri, president of the Private Hospitals Association (PHA), who cited coordination with Yemeni officials regarding payment.

Around 60 to 70 per cent of the patients were discharged from hospitals, Hammouri told The Jordan Times in a phone interview.

Nonetheless, the treatment plan for some of them requires physiotherapy follow-up sessions and complementary surgeries, he said, explaining that orthopaedic operations are usually performed in two to three stages.

The physician expected more Yemenis injured by war to arrive in the Kingdom for treatment purposes. 

However, the PHA has agreed with Yemeni officials that they will not send large numbers of patients at once, therefore avoiding overwhelming the hospitals and running up large bills.

“Several hospitals in safe Yemeni areas are being rehabilitated to accommodate the injured,” Hammouri said.

In previous remarks to The Jordan Times, Hammouri cited the high quality of medical service provided in Jordanian hospitals and the competitive prices as major attractions to Yemenis and Arabs seeking treatment in the Kingdom.

Over 55,000 Libyans had also been treated in the Kingdom’s hospitals, at a total cost of over JD140 million.

He added that Jordanian doctors and medical staff have gained experience in dealing with war patients throughout years of receiving such cases from various conflict zones in the region.

AMMAN — Royal Dutch Shell will provide Jordan with 59.13 trillion British thermal units of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year over the next two years, an official said Thursday.

“Royal Dutch Shell won a two-year contract to provide us with LNG in 2016 and in 2017,” National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) Director General Abdel Fattah Daradkeh told The Jordan Times.

The 59.13 trillion British thermal units of LNG a year cover about 40 per cent of Jordan’s annual electricity generation needs, said Daradkeh.

In July, NEPCO floated a tender to buy 59.13 trillion British thermal units of LNG a year for a period of four years.

“We awarded the contract to Shell for two years only as few companies submitted bids to supply us with LNG for four years. In addition, our main objective was to get supplies for two years at this stage,” the official explained.

Under the two-year deal with Shell, the company will provide Jordan with 18 to 20 shipments of LNG per year. Each shipment will be about 3.2 to 3.3 trillion British thermal units, according to Daradkeh.

Jordan, which enjoys a strategic relationship with Egypt, is also eyeing imports of natural gas from the North African country following the discovery of a giant gas field there, said the official.

“There is strong cooperation with our brotherly Egyptians in this regard and we are looking forward to importing gas from the field,” he added.

In addition to the two-year deal with Shell, Jordan signed a separate agreement with the same company in early 2015 under which Shell provides the Kingdom with 150 million cubic feet of LNG per day for the next five years.

“We greatly rely on LNG for power generation at this stage. In addition to the deals with Shell, we also floated a tender to buy LNG from international spot markets,” said Daradkeh.

Jordan, which imports about 97 per cent of its energy needs, became an importer of LNG after the opening of a terminal for receiving it in Aqaba in mid-2015.

The Kingdom was forced to switch to importing diesel and heavy fuel for power generation after repeated cuts in natural gas supply from Egypt and a complete halt to supplies in since early 2014.

AMMAN — A senior UN official has called for increased support to Jordan from the international community in light of the Syrian refugee crisis’ affect on its resources and host communities.

In a statement released after a three-day visit to Jordan, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director Grete Faremo commended the government’s commitment to accepting and providing services to Syrian refugees, recognising the extraordinary pressure the influx of refugees has placed on Jordan’s limited resources. 

She also reiterated the need to focus on key sectors, ensuring the effective implementation of the Jordan Response Plan (JRP), according to a UNOPS statement.

During her visit, Faremo met with a number of senior officials to discuss how UNOPS and the wider UN community are helping the country achieve its priorities and respond to the Syrian refugee crisis.

In her ministerial-level meetings with the government, Faremo discussed UNOPS’ role in supporting the JRP and efforts to facilitate a more meaningful role for the private sector as a contributor to Jordan’s national priorities. 

Faremo visited Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps, where the Kingdom, in partnership with the international community, has extended all available resources to support those who fled the conflict in Syria.  

“During my visit to Zaatari Refugee Camp, I saw the community police stations which were constructed by UNOPS. The police officers have contributed to reducing tensions and insecurity in the camp, and made the environment safer for the refugees and service providers,” the statement quoted Faremo as saying. 

“During my first official visit to Jordan, I was able to see first-hand the important role that Jordan plays in the region today, not only in terms of being a stable and secure refuge for those escaping conflict, but also serving as an example to the international community on how to respond to those in need,” she added.

AMMAN — Since his early years at school, Shamekh Bluwi has been inspired by costumes of characters from comic books and the story each costume tells.

His inspiration then developed in college as an architecture student; he started cutting out the sketches of buildings and parks and using other elements as backdrops to his work.

The Amman-based visual artist and architect now uses innovative ways to display the beauty of Amman’s old buildings and neighbourhoods. 

The architect thought of a way to combine and document his love for architecture and fashion at the same time; he started applying the “cut-out” fashion style for his sketches.

“I start with a rough sketch; I draw simple ‘line art’ using the Wacom tablet for digital illustration, print it, cut out the solid material, and then I try to take photos of it with different backdrops,” Bluwi told The Jordan Times in a recent interview.

“My first cut-out was published on my Instagram account... it displayed Amman’s 8th Circle and since then, I noticed that people like different displays of art,” he added.

With more than 162,000 followers on his Instagram account, Bluwi documents his progress by posting a photo of his sketches on a daily basis.

“When documenting your work online, you know where you stand and how to improve yourself more… it’s an online portfolio that can inspire people as well,” he said.

“Fashion is a statement; it is an extension of identity,” he added, “because I like contradiction. I chose buildings and fashion to reflect the identity of the city.”

The 30-year-old architect said the aim is to draw minimal modern line art to give more prominence to the background.

“Inspiration is everywhere and it all depends on the chosen background,” he added. “I feel that Amman buildings bring back memories to its residents whenever they see a picture of them. This is the story I want to reflect through my art — my childhood memories.”

“You can also document the history and landmarks of the country or city you are living in,” the artist added.

Bluwi said the beauty of contradiction is also a key element to sketching and layering.

“Drawing simple fashion illustrations will show the backdrop that brings attention to the old buildings of Amman more than the figure itself, but when using modern architecture as the backdrop, a traditional fashion dress can be used in the sketch,” he said.

For Bluwi, success starts at home.

“I had to start from Amman because in order to make art, you have to do something different; start locally then succeed everywhere else.”

AMMAN — The 2015 Korean Cultural Week in Amman concluded its festivities on Wednesday at Al Hussein Cultural Centre in Ras Al Ain with a performance by traditional Korean folklore music ensemble Coreyah.

The name Coreyah is a Sino-Korean homonym referring to their inheritance of the past, while at the same time serving to draw modern people towards a musical tapestry of old music elements.

Rooted in Korean traditional music, Coreyah integrates diverse ethnic musical styles such as African, Brazilian, and Middle Eastern, and modern styles such as jazz and rock.  

The band’s upbeat style, incorporating instruments such as the Tungso bamboo flute, Geomungo zither, and Janggo drum, encouraged the audience to interact with their music and sing along.

The performance consisted of musical pieces and short theatrical skits portraying themes of work, love and entertainment. 

In “Oh, How Frustrating!” the troupe sings about the tears shed by Koreans in remembrance of difficult times.

Korean traditional folk music gave strength to the common people of Korea in the past who were suffering from hard oppressive work. It is through these common themes the group wishes to reach a world audience.

In their Amman performance, the band members included a popular Jordanian folk song, “Hatha Al Urdon Urdona”, in appreciation and admiration of Jordanian culture and music.

Addressing the audience, the band members expressed their excitement to be in Amman for the first time and their gratitude to the Korean embassy for continuing to foster a growing friendship between Jordan and Korea.  

After the show, percussionist An Sang Wook told The Jordan Times the group’s vision is to create good music in many places, and inspire the younger generation through a global music culture.

The audience was invited to a reception afterwards where they could meet-and-greet members of the band. The audience included many Jordanian students studying Korean language at university and at cultural institutes.

One of these students, Shahad Wathak, encouraged her parents to attend the event with her and it was their first exposure to Korean music. 

They told The Jordan Times of their pride in their daughter’s ambitions and dreams to travel to Korea.

Others in the audience from the Korean Cultural Centre in Jordan, located near the 7th Circle, expressed their desire for more opportunities to create friendships between Jordanians and Koreans.

AMMAN — King’s Military Adviser and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben on Thursday received the Netherlands Chief of Defence Tom Middendorp.

At the meeting, attended by HRH Prince Feisal, the two sides discussed means to enhance military cooperation and coordination, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — Hala Khleifat, the wife of  Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, passed away on Wednesday night, local news websites reported on Thursday.

Ensour, ministers, and officials laid Khleifat, the mother of Zuheir, Mansour and Dalah, to rest on Thursday. The house of condolences will be open until Saturday in Salt, at the Ensour Diwan.