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AMMAN –– A number of Jordanian and Palestinian doctors met in the capital on Wednesday to look into ways to cooperate more closely.

The meeting was held as part of the Telemedicine Network, launched by the Palestinian ministry of health in cooperation with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Established in 2009, the project was created with the aim of enhancing medical consultation among doctors in Palestine and Jordan, project coordinator Tala El Yousef said.

She noted that this is the second conference held by the GIZ; the first was held in Ramallah.

“The medical consultations that we focus on are related to heart diseases, cancer and other cases,” she told The Jordan Times during the meeting, adding that organisers are trying to expand the project. 

Yousef noted that six hospitals in Palestine, including four public facilities, are involved in the project.

“We conducted training for doctors on how to use telemedicine in Jordan and Palestine. We are also trying to expand the scope of beneficiaries.” 

Telemedicine is “the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status”, according to the American Telemedicine Association.

“Telemedicine includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, e-mail, smart phones, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications technology.”

Around 150 doctors have benefited from GIZ’s training in Jordan and Palestine, according to Yousef, who said five hospitals in the Kingdom have benefited from the project.

“GIZ will remain in the project until March 2015, and then the Palestinian health ministry will take over the project,” she added, noting that the project was initially launched to boost the health sector in Palestine. 

Senator Wajih Azaizeh said he attended Wednesday’s meeting not only to talk about means of communication between Jordanian and Palestinian doctors, but also about health issues related to Palestinian refugees in both countries. 

“I think it is an important issue because there are some patients who do not have health insurance coverage. They also cannot afford the expenses of their medication,” he told The Jordan Times.   

Palestinian Deputy Minister of Health Anan Masri said the heath sector in his country faces several challenges.

“The [Israeli] occupation is the main problem. The lack of human resources is also another obstacle,” he added. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah arrived home on Thursday after a working visit to the US, preceded by a visit to the UK. 

The King on Wednesday received a telephone call from US President Barack Obama during which the two leaders discussed the latest regional developments, especially the situation in Syria, according to a Royal Court statement.

The two leaders also discussed ways to enhance bilateral ties and the Jordanian-US strategic cooperation, said a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty also discussed with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the latest developments, especially efforts to achieve peace and  solve the Syrian crisis.

In a telephone call during his stay in New York, the King asserted Jordan’s position in support of all efforts to achieve peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with the two-state solution, relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, a Royal Court statement said.

Regarding the Syrian crisis, the King emphasised the need to arrive fast at a political solution for the crisis, which would end the suffering of the Syrian people, highlighting in this context the growing burdens on Jordan’s resources as a result of the increasing influx of Syrian refugees.

On Tuesday in Washington, King Abdullah and US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed developments in the Middle East, especially in relation to peace efforts and the Syrian crisis.

The Monarch called on increasing efforts to push for resuming the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks in order to address final-status issues, arriving at the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In relation to the situation in Syria, the King  reiterated his call for a political solution to the crisis that would end the suffering of Syrians and preserve the unity and coherence of its people.

The King  also attended in New York a special conference held by Clinton Foundation to support Jordan’s national plan to empower local communities hosting Syrian refugees, prepared by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

In remarks at the meeting, attended by influential US figures and non-governmental institutions, the King  reviewed the impact of the Syrian crisis on Jordan as a result of hosting 1.3 million Syrians, including 600,000 registered refugees, making Jordan the world’s third largest host of refugees.

His Majesty started his visit to the US with a meeting with investment leaders from US Angel Investment Group in San Francisco who are interested in supporting entrepreneurs and start-up projects in the world. 

He also delivered a speech at the Innovative Jordan Conference hosted by the University of California in Berkeley.

The speech highlighted available opportunities in the ICT sector and electronic content that made the Kingdom  a pioneering centre in this field regionally and internationally.

In addition, he and CEOs of major US  companies convened and discussed boosting investment relations between Jordan and the US.

The Monarch briefed his audience on the investment opportunities available in Jordan, especially in the ICT sector.
He also paid a visit to business incubator “Plug and Play” for IT manufacturing in Sunnyvale, San Francisco, which supported major US companies.

The King was briefed on the exerted efforts to empower start-up companies in ICT, and how Jordan can benefit from this experience to enhance and sustain the environment needed for start-up companies in this sector.

The Monarch also met with main representatives of civil society organisations on the US West Coast during his visit to Los Angeles in California.

Discussions covered the latest regional and international developments, where King Abdullah highlighted the Kingdom’s stance towards the Syrian crisis, warning against the fallout of a prolonged conflict on the Syrian people, neighbouring countries and the entire region.

During his meeting with leading US and international filmmakers, discussions covered ways the Jordanian market can benefit from their experience in the field.

They also discussed opportunities to benefit from the Kingdom’s natural resources and significant tourism sites, such as Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, in filmmaking and production.

His Majesty also visited the UK on May 11 and attended the 9th Combined Cavalry Memorial Parade as a guest of honour. 

The parade, held with the participation of senior British military figures, included military exercises, awards and decorations of armoured regiments’ servicemen, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The armoured battalion includes the Light Dragoons, in which the King had served in a leading post while receiving his military training after graduating from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. 

The Light Dragoons is considered the oldest and most important battalion of the UK army. 

On the next day, His Majesty delivered a lecture at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London

The King described the drive towards comprehensive reform as “a strategic option” that is in line with the aspirations of Jordanians for a better future. 

Addressing members of the college staff and students, the King said Jordan — in response to the adverse effects of regional changes — has sought to promote a culture of tolerance, dialogue and co-existence as an alternative to hard-line positions, bigotry and close-mindedness.

Turning to regional developments, the King reaffirmed Jordan’s position in support of a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis that guarantees the unity of Syria’s territory and people, warning against the fallout of the crisis’ continuation on the Syrian people, neighbouring countries and the entire region.
He highlighted the growing burdens that the Kingdom is shouldering as a result of the continued influx of Syrian refugees, which drains its limited resources, calling on the international community to double its assistance to the Kingdom to enable it to perform its humanitarian mission. 

On the sidelines of the lecture, the King met with students at the college, including Arabs and Jordanians.

AMMAN — The Jordan Gaming Task Force will launch a nationwide competition next month to reward excelling game and application developers, Nour Khrais, its chairman, said Thursday.

The contest, which will be launched in cooperation with two partners working in the field of games and information technology, entails extending financial grants as well as support and mentorship to the winners, according to Khrais.

“App and game developers will be invited to take part in the competition, which seeks to support start-ups and ideas in this field. Several winners will be announced at the end of the competition,” he added.

Meanwhile, five Jordanian developers have won cash grants under a competition held in partnership between the Jordan Gaming Lab and Sony.

Each of the developers won $3,000 to be able to develop their games and apps.

“The winners of this competition will be able to show their apps and games to representatives from Sony very soon to apply for more grants,” Khrais noted. The competition with Sony was launched last year.

Winners will be also trained by experts at Sony to enhance their skills.

The gaming lab, Khrais said, will hold an event in June, and invite game and app developers to look into creating applications that address tourism challenges, and promote the country’s tourist sites.

Jordan is the largest producer of digital games in the region, accounting for about 60 per cent of the games in the Middle East.

Founded in 2011, the Jordan Gaming Task Force seeks to develop the electronic gaming industry in the region.

AMMAN — Authorities have apprehended owners of illegal wells in west Amman’s Wadi Al Seer Municipality, who were pumping water from sealed wells, a government official said on Thursday.

The well owners were released on bail last month after they were fined and signed pledges that they would not repeat the violation, according to a source at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, who noted that they were arrested after failing to abide by the law for the third time.

“The owners of the illegal wells were arrested for repeating the offense after the ministry sealed the wells several times and for selling water that doesn’t meet the country’s strict drinking water standards, and without obtaining a licence,” the source told The Jordan Times over the phone.

The wells were drilled for pumping water and selling it to the public via tankers.

The wells were sealed under an ongoing campaign, launched in August 2013 to end violations on water networks and seal all illegal wells.

“A total of 18 drilling rigs were confiscated since the beginning of this year and 145 rigs since the launch of the campaign. During May alone authorities sealed 12 illegal wells, and 243 wells since the launch of the campaign,” the source underscored.

Meanwhile, some 9,649 illegal water pipes, which were diverting tens of thousands of cubic metres every day, have been removed since the onset of the campaign.

“During this month, the authorities removed 237 illegal water pipes, which were attached to water mains to pump water for the irrigation of private farms and crops,” the source noted.

Drilling wells in any part of the country is not allowed and the government no longer tolerates it, the source said, highlighting that the “serious crackdown” on water violations will continue across the country, especially with the onset of the dry season.

The government recently announced that it was committed to putting an end to all water violations, describing water theft as a form of corruption. To this end, the government drafted new amendments to the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) Law.

The Lower House endorsed the draft amendments to the law, which grants WAJ and its employees the authority to enforce the law when they detect any water violations without the need to seek police support.

Also under the amendments, WAJ can confiscate any machinery and equipment used by violators to dig illegal wells. 

Under Article 30 of the current version of the WAJ Law, violators are fined up to JD5,000 and jailed for two years, while Article 456 of the Penal Code stipulates that violators of water networks face three- to six-month prison terms and fines ranging between JD100 and JD1,000.

The Council of Ministers has also endorsed several decisions and regulations to curb infringements on water resources and maximise penalties against offenders.

These include depriving owners of illegal wells of agricultural or any other governmental loans, and supplying electricity for wells only after clearance is obtained from WAJ, proving they are licensed.

The new regulations also prohibit the import of water pumps for wells unless the Ministry of Water and Irrigation grants permission, and also tracks their destination.

In addition, the regulations stipulate that work permits of guest workers employed on farms with illegal wells will be revoked, among other new penalties.

AMMAN — Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania, and Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Hussein, Prince Feisal and Princess Alia Tabbaa attended the wedding ceremony of HRH Princess Aya Al Feisal and Mohammad Halawani on Thursday.

 They also attended a ceremony during which their marriage contract was signed, according to the Royal Court.

Queen Sofia of Spain and several other members of the Royal family and the Halawani family attended the wedding ceremony. 

AMMAN — Jordan plans to build a  JD100 million plant for uranium extraction, Samer Kahook, general manager of the state-owned Jordan Uranium Mining Company (JUMCO), said Wednesday as he announced that Jordan’s central area is home to 36,389 metric tonnes of uranium oxide that can be easily mined.

The government is expected to start attracting strategic partners in the plant before the end of this year, Kahook, said in an interview Wednesday on the sidelines of a meeting to announce the results of a study on uranium reserves in Jordan.

“The government of Jordan will have a share in the plant that will be larger than the strategic partner’s stake,” said Kahook during a press meeting to announce the results of a study into the country’s uranium deposits.

The plant, he said, will have a capacity of 300-400 metric tonnes per year and can be expanded to 1,500 metric tonnes per year at a later stage, he said.

“The design and the engineering works on the plant are expected to start in the next couple of years and in four to five years from now the plant is expected to go operational gradually,” said Kahook, who is also a commissioner at the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission.

“The uranium extracted through the plant will be either sold on the international market or enriched abroad and brought back to Jordan to be used in the generation of the planned nuclear reactor in the Kingdom,” he added.

“When used to fuel a nuclear plant, a quantity of about 400 tonnes of uranium can save about $2 billion  currently spent to buy diesel and heavy fuel for power generation,” he said, stressing that the mining and extraction of uranium is a separate project from the nuclear reactor project.

‘Easily mined’ 

The Central Jordan Area, located about 80km south of Amman, is home to 36,389 metric tonnes of uranium oxide that is easily mined and can be extracted cost-effectively, Kahook said, citing the study, conducted by experts at JUMCO, in cooperation with an international team of world-renowned experts have shown.

Estimation of the uranium resources in the central region are expected to increase as more exploration is carried out by JUMCO in the 350sq.km area.

The uranium resources in the Central Jordan Area can be increased to 65,979 metric tonnes, if uranium prices go up, allowing mining of uranium of lesser concentrations, he said.

The conducting of the study in partnership with international experts played a key role in enhancing the capabilities of Jordanian experts and engineers in this field, said Kahook, adding that the exploration process will continue in different parts of the country. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday received a telephone call from US President Barack Obama during which the two leaders discussed the latest regional developments, especially the situation in Syria, according to a Royal Court statement.

During the phone conversation, the two leaders tackled the Syrian crisis and its consequences on the regional and neighbouring countries, especially Jordan, with His Majesty reiterating the need for a comprehensive political solution to Syria’s ongoing war that can end the suffering of its people.

The two leaders also discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and the Jordanian-US strategic cooperation, said a Royal Court statement.

President Obama voiced appreciation for the King’s efforts to achieve peace stability in the region in addition to the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts to the Syrian refugees, according to the statement. 

In Washington, King Abdullah and US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed on Tuesday developments in the Middle East, especially in relation to peace efforts and the Syrian crisis. 

King Abdullah called on increasing efforts to push for resuming the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks in order to address final-status issues, arriving at the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, 

Stressing the importance of the leading role of the US in backing the peace process, the Monarch said Jordan would continue its endeavours, along with all stakeholders, to arrive at a just, comprehensive and permanent resolution for the Palestinian issue, the “core conflict in the region”. 

In relation to the situation in Syria, the King reiterated his call for a political solution to the crisis that would end the suffering of Syrians and preserve the unity and coherence of its people. 

Also on Wednesday, the King attended in New York a special conference held by Clinton Foundation to support Jordan’s national plan to empower local communities hosting Syrian refugees, prepared by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

In remarks at the meeting, attended by influential US figures and non-governmental institutions, the King reviewed the impact of the Syrian crisis on Jordan as a result of hosting 1.3 million Syrians, including 600,000 registered refugees, making Jordan the world’s third largest host of refugees.

He noted that the assistance extended by the international community focuses on relief aid and humanitarian needs of refugees, ignoring the aid provided by hosting communities.

His Majesty started his visit to the US with a meeting with investment leaders from US Angel Investment Group in San Francisco who are interested in supporting entrepreneurs and start-up projects in the world. 

He also delivered a speech at the Innovative Jordan Conference hosted by the University of California in Berkeley.

The speech highlighted available opportunities in the ICT sector and electronic content that made the Kingdom a pioneering centre in this field regionally and internationally.

In addition, he and CEOs of major US companies convened and discussed boosting investment relations between Jordan and the US.

The Monarch briefed them on the investment opportunities available in the Kingdom, especially in the ICT sector.

He also paid a visit to business incubator “Plug and Play” for IT manufacturing at Sunnyville, San Francisco, which supported major US companies.

King Abdullah was briefed on the exerted efforts to empower start-up companies in ICT, and how Jordan can benefit from this experience to enhance and sustain the environment needed for start-up companies in this sector.

The King also met with main representatives of civil society organisations  on the US West Coast during his visit to Los Angeles in California.

Discussions covered the latest regional and international developments, where King Abdullah highlighted the Kingdom’s stance towards the Syrian crisis, warning against the fallout of a prolonged conflict on the Syrian people, neighbouring countries and the entire region.

During his meeting with leading US and international filmmakers, discussions covered ways the Jordanian market can benefit from their experience in the field. 

They also discussed opportunities to benefit from the Kingdom’s natural resources and significant tourism sites, such as Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, in filmmaking and production. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday discussed the latest developments, especially efforts to achieve peace and the Syrian crisis.   

In a telephone call during his stay in New York, the King asserted Jordan’s position in support of all efforts to achieve peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with the two-state solution, relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, a Royal Court statement said. 

Regarding the Syrian crisis, the King emphasised the need to arrive fast at a political solution for the crisis, which would end the suffering of the Syrian people.

He highlighted the growing burdens on Jordan’s resources as a result of the increasing influx of Syrian refugees.

The King stressed the importance of the international community’s support for Jordan to be able to continue its humanitarian mission. 

The UN chief commended the King’s efforts towards achieving peace and stability in the Middle East, stressing the support of the UN and its institutions for Jordan to help it address the impact of regional crises.

AMMAN — A new medical team began work at Jordan’s field hospital in Cairo, replacing “Egypt 4” staff.

The team includes medical, nursing, technical and administrative staff, according to “Egypt 5” Director Kamal Abu Reesh.

AMMAN — The Eastern Military Zone, in cooperation with the Royal Medical Services, held a free medical day on Tuesday in the Um Nuam area in Mafraq Governorate.

More than 300 people benefited from the services provided by clinics specialised in general and internal medicine, surgery and paediatrics.