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AMMAN — King’s Military Adviser and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben received on Tuesday Jakub Landovsky, Czech deputy minister of defence, head of the defence policy and strategy division.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed military cooperation and regional and international developments.

AMMAN — US Ambassador Alice G. Wells and Water Minister Hazem Nasser marked on Tuesday 60 years of cooperation between the US and Jordan to develop the Kingdom’s water sector at a ceremony held at Al Hussein Youth City.

Wells stressed the US’ recognition of the unique challenges faced by Jordan as one of the world’s most water-poor countries, as well as the importance of water and sanitation for economic development, public health, and peace and security, according to a USAID statement.

She underlined the “power of partnership” between the US and Jordan in the area of water since the 1950s, the statement said.

Nasser noted that water is central to Jordan’s social and economic development and that close cooperation between the two countries has contributed greatly to the advancement of Jordan’s water infrastructure and services.

The ceremony marked the completion of USAID’s $16 million Institutional Support and Strengthening Project, which involved collaboration with the Water Ministry, the Water Authority of Jordan, the Jordan Valley Authority, and water utilities to restructure the ministry, enhance well management practices, and adapt strategic water planning to changing demographics, according to the statement.

The US will commit an additional $125 million to Jordan’s water sector over the next five years, the statement added.

Since USAID completed studies for the first master plan for water development in the Jordan River Basin in the 1950s, the US government also constructed the King Abdullah Canal in the 1960s and built or enhanced wastewater facilities in several Jordanian cities in the 1980s. 

In addition, it initiated construction on As Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2003 and subsequently invested another $275 million for its expansion, which will be completed this month, as well as for work on water and wastewater networks in Zarqa, according to the USAID statement.

AMMAN — Khalid Mahadin, former director general of the Jordan News Agency, Petra, passed away on Tuesday. Jordan Press Association President Tareq Momani and Petra paid tribute to the late journalist. Mahadin was born in 1941 in Karak.

He obtained his BA in philosophy and worked in Libya before returning to Jordan, where he worked at the Culture Ministry, Al Rai daily, the Royal Court, the Greater Amman Municipality, and other media-related institutions and organisations.

He also authored several short story and poetry collections. Mahadin will be laid to rest in the Wadi Seer graveyard on Wednesday.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday stressed that the value of revenues and expenditures should be the same as defined in the 2016 draft budget law, as was the case during the last two years.

During a visit to the General Budget Department, Ensour stressed the need to complete drafting the 2016 state budget law, in addition to the law governing the budgets of independent public agencies, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

These laws will be deliberated and endorsed by the Cabinet and then sent to the Lower House, before the inauguration of Parliament’s ordinary session in mid-November.

AMMAN — The Islamic Action Front (IAF) on Tuesday expressed its support for the Palestinian resistance, an IAF statement said.

At a press conference, the front called for a clearer Jordanian stance regarding the legitimacy of Palestinian resistance, the statement said.

The IAF also called on the government to sever its diplomatic ties with Israel and to stop all forms of political, economic, cultural and agricultural normalisation, in addition to ending all forms of security cooperation, the statement added.

AMMAN — The Jordan Press Association (JPA) on Tuesday denounced the continued Israeli attacks against Palestinian people.

In a statement, the JPA expressed anger and resentment over the Israeli targeting of Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem The syndicate called on the international community to pressure Israel into stopping these provocations and to provide international protection for Palestinians.

AMMAN — The “Strengthening the House of Representatives in Jordan” project is scheduled to organise a two-day workshop on the 2015 draft election law, according to an EU statement released Tuesday.

The event, funded by the EU and implemented by Altair Asesores, will take place on October 20 and 21 from 9am to 3pm at Corp Hotel in Amman.

The workshop sessions will focus on best practices on electoral laws, discussions on amendments and possible outcomes of the elections law between MPs, political parties’ representatives and researchers.

AMMAN — Tourism Minister Nayef Fayez on Tuesday highlighted the importance of religious tourism in Jordan and Palestine, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Fayez was speaking at the 17th International Forum for Arab and Religious Tourism, organised by several companies from Jordan, the UAE, and Egypt, in cooperation with the Tourism Ministry.

Also speaking at the forum, Awqaf Minister Hayel Dawood cited Islamic edicts that encourage Muslims to visit Jerusalem and its holy sites through Jordan, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — A worker died on Tuesday when he fell from the second floor of a construction site, the Civil Defence Department said.

The building is part of the new pier project near Al Durra Circle in Aqaba, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

AMMAN — Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) personnel have raided a house in Northern Badia after receiving a tip on a man in possession of narcotics, the Public Security Department (PSD) announced on Tuesday.

An AND force apprehended the man, who was found in possession of 10,000 narcotic pills and a firearm. Another suspect found in possession of drugs was also arrested in the house.

The owner of the house and other accomplices are involved and wanted for a case of smuggling large amounts of drugs, the PSD said, adding that investigation is still under way.

In another case, Aqaba AND personnel received information on drugs hidden in a tyre at an industrial zone in the city.

After finding and inspecting it, AND personnel found 12,000 narcotic pills. An investigation was launched in search for suspects, according to the PSD.