Local

AMMAN — Border guards on Sunday prevented the illegal entry of five vehicles through the Syrian border, according to an informed source in the Jordan Armed Forces.

The source said the guards opened fire on two vehicles and destroyed them after the drivers ignored their warnings.

The drivers of the three other vehicles complied and surrendered to the border guards.

The vehicles were found to be carrying weapons and ammunition, according to the source.

Meanwhile, 1,625 Syrian refugees have crossed into Jordan over the past 72 hours through illegal entry points, the source said.

AMMAN — Jordan’s peacekeeping contingent in Ivory Coast on Sunday distributed humanitarian aid to children and families in celebration of the anniversary of the Karameh Battle and the Arabisation of the Jordan Armed Forces.

MAFRAQ — Five people were injured on Sunday in an accident that involved two vehicles in the Balaama area in Mafraq Governorate, some 80km northeast of Amman.

Civil Defence Department staff administered first aid to the injured and took them to Prince Hashem Military Hospital, where they were listed in fair condition.

AMMAN — German Ambassador to Jordan Ralph Tarraf provided JD2,500 to SOS Children’s Villages Jordan on Sunday, a German embassy statement said.

“I admire the work of SOS and I personally congratulate all supporters for the great job they are doing,” the statement quoted Tarraf as saying.

“We want to show that we really appreciate this.” The money was raised voluntarily by employees at the German embassy and their families.

“The German embassy staff supports several goodwill projects in Jordan on a non-governmental basis; no public funding is involved,” the statement said.

AMMAN — Hundreds of Jordanians on Saturday joined the Earth Hour global initiative by switching off their lights in a call for reducing electricity consumption and protecting the environment.

A candlelight march down Rainbow Street set off from Wild Jordan at 8:30pm, as hundreds of participants held candles and strolled through the darkened streets.

The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature organised the event.

AMMAN — A 48-year-old man died and six others were injured on Saturday when a car overturned on the desert highway near Eneizah Bridge, according to the Maan Civil Defence Department.

The injured were taken to Maan Public Hospital, where their condition was listed as fair.

On Friday, 12 people were injured when two cars collided on the Beirin road, according to the Zarqa Civil Defence Department.

The injured were sent to Zarqa Public Hospital and their condition was described as fair.

AMMAN –– The Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organisation (TAG-Org) said on Saturday it has offered to equip the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) with smart solutions to enhance the level of services provided to residents.

According to a TAG-Org statement, the initiative seeks to turn GAM into a “smart agency” within three years.

The announcement was made during a meeting between Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji and TAG-Org Chairman Talal Abu-Ghazaleh on Saturday to discuss ways of cooperation.

Smart applications would enable GAM to offer better services and combat corruption and bureaucracy, Abu-Ghazaleh said.

Biltaji and Abu-Ghazaleh also agreed to establish a knowledge centre at GAM for TAG-Org to offer training to municipality cadres on smart and online technologies, the statement said.

GAZA — “Gaza 29”, the Jordanian field hospital in the coastal enclave, on Saturday started receiving patients, the commander of the hospital, Col. Muttaleb Bin Tarif, said.

Hospital Director Col. Fuad Battah said “Gaza 29” personnel have so far dealt with more than 700 medical cases.

AMMAN — Jordan Customs Department (JCD) personnel in Aqaba foiled an attempt to smuggle 3,850 packs of cigarettes, according to a JCD statement issued Saturday.

The cigarettes are being held by the JCD until the JD75,000 fine is paid.

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Saturday installed a new traffic light on Al Sakhra Al Musharaffah Street near the main entrance the Mugabalein area, to organise traffic.

GAM Mayor Aqel Biltaji, Traffic Department Director Brig.

Gen.

Dawood Hakouz and the area’s local committee chairperson, Abtan Ghireir, checked on traffic movement after operating the traffic light, according to a GAM statement.

GAM also changed the phases of some traffic lights in Um Al Summaq area, and the traffic lights near Mecca Mall to become two-phased instead of three to increase their effectiveness.