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MAFRAQ — A total of 400 Syrian newborns were registered at the Mafraq Gynaecology and Paediatric Hospital during the past two months, according to hospital director, Hani Oleimat.

He noted that the facility’s medics have delivered 1,145 babies.

Oleimat added that the emergency unit at the hospital received 1,987 patients during the last two months.

AMMAN — Airport International Group (AIG), the Jordanian company operating Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), is holding a full emergency drill at QAIA between 5pm and 9pm on Tuesday, according to an AIG statement issued Monday.

AIG said no risks will be involved in the fire drill and that it will not interfere with passenger schedules or cause flight delays.

“The drill corresponds with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s policies and Jordan’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission’s regulations, both of which require that such exercises be regularly implemented…” the statement said.

AMMAN — The Canadian embassy is holding an exhibition and sale of artwork by young Syrian artists from the Zaatari Refugee Camp on Thursday, an embassy statement said Monday.

The exhibition, which will be held at the embassy’s premises at 133 Zahran Street, will be open to the public between 2pm and 6pm.

The event marks the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and is organised in partnership with UNICEF and International Medical Corps, the statement said.

The exhibition will include paintings, pottery, and sculptures, the proceeds of which will be used to purchase additional art supplies for the children of Zaatari.

AMMAN — Health Minister Ali Hiasat on Monday condemned the recent attack on an anaesthesiologist at Al Bashir Hospital, stressing that the perpetrator will be held accountable.

In a statement sent to The Jordan Times, Hiasat underlined that the ministry has taken necessary legal measures against the assailant in cooperation with the Jordan Medical Association.

AMMAN — The ties between the Jordanian and Armenian peoples have deep historical roots, Culture Minster Lana Mamkegh said on Monday.

During a meeting with Armenian Ambassador to Jordan Arshag Poladian, Mamkegh said Armenians are part of the Jordanian community, which respects diversity and has various minorities, noting that Armenian culture is part of Jordanian culture.

Poladian welcomed cooperation with the Culture Ministry to boost cultural exchange between the two peoples.

AMMAN — Education Minister Mohammad Thneibat on Monday said the ministry will start providing free extra lessons for General Secondary Education Certificate Examination students on April 1.

This move would reduce parents’ financial burdens and present an educational alternative under the supervision of the ministry, Thneibat added.

The ministry will choose the best teachers in mathematics, physics, biology, Arabic, English and other fields of study to offer extra lessons after school hours in all education directorates, he said, adding that the teachers will be paid for these lessons.

AMMAN — Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh on Monday met separately with Afghan Ambassador Majnoon Gulab and Cypriot Ambassador Charalambos Hadjisavvas to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Tarawneh briefed them on the burdens shouldered by Jordan due to the political situation in the region and hosting “large waves” of refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Palestine.

He stressed the importance of building strong relationships with Afghanistan and Cyprus.

For his part, Afghanistan’s ambassador commended the Kingdom’s support to his country and its efforts in hosting Syrian refugees.

The Cypriot ambassador said Jordan is the only stable country in the region, which has become a model of security and stability despite its limited resources.

He added that Cyprus is working to develop its relations with Jordan in various fields.

AMMAN — Nine people were injured on Monday in a traffic accident on the ring road that involved three vehicles.

Civil Defence Department personnel in east Amman administered first aid to the injured and took them to Prince Hamzah Public Hospital, where their condition was listed as fair.

GAZA — A three-truck convoy laden with food, humanitarian assistance and medical supplies to Jordan’s field hospital in Gaza arrived in the coastal enclave on Monday through the Beit Hanoun border crossing.

Mohammad Hamouri, director of “Gaza 28”, said the assistance, sent upon Royal directives, was dispatched in cooperation with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation.

AMMAN — The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) has completed eight rounds of talks with Russia's Rosatom to sign two agreements that will pave the way for the establishment of the country's first nuclear reactor, according to its chairman. 

The commission still has two more issues to be discussed with the Russian side before the two agreements are signed, JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan said on Monday.

One agreement will be between the governments of the two countries, while the second will be a project development agreement that specifies the details of the project, including its financing and other related issues, Toukan said on a talk show aired by Jordan Television Sunday evening.

Jordan recently selected Russia's Rosatom as the preferred vendor to construct twin 1,000-megawatt (MW) reactors by 2021.

The value of the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) Contract for the two 1,000MW power plants will be $10 billion. The Kingdom will cover 50.1 per cent of the EPC contract, while Rosatom will cover 49.9 per cent as investor and operator of the nuclear plants.

During the talk show, which also hosted Jamal Gammoh, head of the Lower House's Energy Committee, Toukan stressed the importance of the nuclear project for the Kingdom, which imports about 96 per cent of its energy needs. 

But Gammoh said there was no need for the country to resort to nuclear energy for power generation.

"Jordan has plans for mega-projects in the fields of oil shale and renewable energy to generate power. The nuclear reactor will come with risks and we do not need such risks as the planned renewable energy projects will cover the country's needs," the deputy said.

Referring to Jordan's uranium reserves, Toukan said the results of a feasibility study conducted by world-renowned geostatistics centres and experts will be announced within two months.

"Initial results indicate that uranium is available in commercial quantities in Jordan," he noted.

"I am hopeful that the studies will show that there are more than 40,000 metric tonnes of uranium in the rocks in Jordan," Toukan said.

In 2012, the government terminated a contract with Areva that conducted feasibility studies on the quantities of uranium in the country.

Areva said there were about 28,000 metric tonnes of uranium in Jordan, Toukan said, adding that the government terminated the contract because Areva's figures were not accurate.