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AMMAN — For the second consecutive year, Jordan has made “significant” strides in the Open Data Index (ODIN) for 2024, issued by the Open Data Observatory, where the Kingdom's overall score rose from 53 in 2020 to 66 in 2022, reaching 72 in 2024.

In a statement on Monday, the Department of Statistics said the index assesses countries' performance in terms of official data coverage and openness, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The latest achievement reflects Jordan’s ongoing efforts to boost its national statistical system and provide higher-quality, more transparent data.

ODIN serves as a global benchmark, underlining the value of open data in promoting transparency, supporting informed policymaking, and enhancing the delivery of public services. 

The index evaluates official data across several criteria, including availability at different geographic levels, regularity of updates, comprehensiveness of indicators and data openness.

It also examines accessibility in machine-readable formats, the availability of bulk downloads, and the provision of application programming interfaces (APIs). Performance is measured across two main dimensions: coverage and openness, with a focus on the official websites of national statistics offices and other government sources.

Jordan also recorded an improvement in the World Bank’s Statistical Performance Index (SPI), with its score rising from 66.48 per cent in 2020 to 78.1 per cent in 2023, surpassing the Middle East and North Africa regional average of 64.3 per cent in 2020 and 70.8 per cent in 2023.

The SPI is a “key” tool for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of a country's statistical systems, aiming to enhance the quality and usability of official statistics in support of evidence-based decision-making.

According to the DoS statement, this progress stems from “structured and targeted” efforts under the National Strategy for the Development of the Statistical System (2025–2029), which seeks to improve the availability, quality, and sustainable use of official data.

The improvement aligns with the Economic Modernisation Vision, which highlights the “critical” role of accurate, accessible data in shaping sound economic and social policies that drive comprehensive development across all sectors.

AMMAN — UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has said that the number of the agency’s staff killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war has surpassed 300.

"Throughout this war, one of the most dreadful updates I regularly receive is the death toll of UNRWA staff. Today, that death toll has surpassed the gruesome milestone of 300," Lazzarini said Sunday in a post on his official X account.

"The vast majority of staff were killed by the Israeli Army with their children & loved ones: whole families wiped out. Several were killed in the line of duty while serving their communities. Those killed were mostly UN health workers & teachers supporting their communities," Lazzarini added.

“Nothing justifies these killings,” Lazzarini said, adding that “impunity will lead to more killing and those responsible must be held accountable.”

AMMAN — The State Security Court (SSC) on Monday issued a death sentence and multiple prison terms over a 2022 attack that claimed the lives of four security officers and wounded several others.

In an open session on Monday, the SSC sentenced the lead defendant to death for his role in the December 2022 attack, which targeted a police patrol in southern Maan Governorate and led to the death ofColonel AbdulrazzaqDalabeeh.

Dalabeeh served as deputy director of the Maan Police Directorate and was fatally shot in the head on December 16, 2022.

Two other defendants were convicted of related terrorism charges, including complicity in acts that led to death, illegal possession of firearms for terrorist purposes, and affiliation with a terrorist group. They received sentences of between 9 and 20 years of hard labor. 

A fourth defendant was sentenced to three years in prison for failing to alert authorities despite having prior knowledge of the group's plans.

The court acquitted two other individuals due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

The events date back to December 15, 2022, when militants ambushed a police patrol, killing Dalabeehand injuring several others. Four days later, on December 19, security forces launched a raid on a house believed to be sheltering the suspects. A fierce exchange of gunfire followed, resulting in the deaths of Captain GhaithRahahleh, Second Lieutenant MutazNajada, and Corporal Ibrahim Shaqarin. Several other officers were wounded in the operation. 

Police officers applied rules of engagement and killed attackers. 

AMMAN — The Jordan Industrial Estates Company (JIEC) achieved “remarkable” investment results in 2024, attracting 211 new investments worth JD240 million.

JIEC, in a statement issued on Monday, noted that these projects are expected to create around 11,000 job opportunities during various operational phases, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

JIEC said that the new investments were distributed across the industrial and service sectors.

The company signed 175 industrial investment contracts with a total value of JD224 million, including 88 contracts with existing investors expanding their operations within the industrial estates, and 87 contracts with new investors, in addition to 36 service sector investment contracts.

King Abdullah II Industrial Estate (AIE) in Sahab topped the list in terms of industrial investment attraction, securing 61 projects worth JD81 million, which are expected to generate some 1,900 jobs.

It was followed by Al Hassan Industrial Estate, which attracted 46 investments worth JD30 million, with an estimated 3,800 job opportunities.

Al Muwaqqar Industrial Estate secured 26 investments valued JD95 million, expected to provide around 4,700 jobs in their initial operational phases.

Al Hussein bin Abdullah II Industrial Estate in Karak attracted 17 new investments worth JD5 million, anticipated to create about 170 job opportunities.

Madaba Industrial Estate secured 14 industrial investments totalling JD7 million, JIEC said, expecting these schemes to offer around 322 jobs during initial operations.

Regarding the origin of investments, the company revealed that 63 per cent were Jordanian, 25 per cent foreign, and 12 per cent joint Jordanian-foreign investments, covering a variety of productive sectors including plastics, engineering, paper and cardboard, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and construction.

JIEC Director-General Omar Juwaid attributed the success in attracting investments to the investment climate, strategic locations of the industrial estates, and the incentives offered to industrial investors.

Juwaid noted that 2024 witnessed a “strong” performance in attracting industrial investments, coinciding with the completion of expansion phases and the tendering of additional industrial building spaces in several estates in order to accommodate new investments and meet investor demand for developed lands and ready-made facilities.

He praised the ongoing government support for industrial investment in Jordan’s industrial estates, highlighting specific incentives in Al Hussein and Tafileh industrial estates.

Such incentives include electricity tariff reductions of up to 80 per cent for 10 years, listing investments on the productive branches programme, and a 50 per cent discount on container handling costs at the Aqaba port, the director-general noted.

He said that the total number of industrial investments in the 10 industrial estates managed by JIEC has reached approximately 975 companies, with total investments exceeding JD3 billion and providing nearly 63,000 job opportunities.

The completion rate of the first phase of Zarqa Industrial Estate reached around 60 per cent in 2024. 

The facility is expected to attract numerous industrial projects, “positively” impacting the total number of investments, capital inflows and job creation across the estates.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs AymanSafadi has urged “immediate” action to end starvation in Gaza, calling for unimpeded aid delivery in the Strip.

“Starvation is the inhumane reality of Gaza. The world has a moral and legal responsibility to end this horrific catastrophe,” Safadi wrote on X platform.

The foreign minister called on the international community to act and save Palestinians in war-torn Gaza from “death by bombs, hunger, dehydration and absence of medical care.”

“Starving 2.3 million Palestinians is a crime that the world must act to stop now. Saving them from death by bombs, hunger, dehydration and absence of medical care must be the priority for which the whole international community must mobilize.”

He also called for lifting Israeli siege on Gaza and delivering aid to the Strip, adding “Israel must allow UN organisations to distribute it.”

“An exchange deal must be concluded, and the aggression must end immediately,” he said.

AMMAN — A significant rise in temperatures is expected by midweek, culminating in a heatwave across most regions by Thursday, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).

Temperatures on Monday dropped to seasonal averages, bringing moderate conditions in most parts of the Kingdom, while relatively hot weather persisted in the Badia, Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba. 

Tuesday’s weather is expected to remain stable, with continued mild temperatures in most areas. The Badia, Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba will continue to experience warmer-than-average conditions. High clouds will linger, and northwesterly winds are forecast to be moderate to occasionally active, according to JMD.

A slight warming trend is anticipated on Wednesday, bringing relatively hot conditions to most regions. The Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba are likely to see hotter-than-usual temperatures. Winds will gradually shift from northeasterly to northwesterly.

By Thursday, a more pronounced rise in temperatures will mark the beginning of a heatwave, JMD said, with relatively hot conditions are expected even in the high mountain areas, with the rest of the country experiencing full summer-like heat.

AMMAN — The number of real estate properties owned by non-Jordanians in the Kingdom has gone down by 13 per cent during the first third of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to a report by the Department of Lands and Survey.

The total number of property ownership transactions by foreigners dropped to 754, down from 870 in the corresponding period last year.

The report, cited by the government-owned Al Mamlaka, said that foreign ownership of apartments fell to 428 units, down 10 per cent from 475 units last year. Land plot ownership also saw decline of 17 per cent to 326 plots from 395 in 2024.

The estimated value of properties owned by non-Jordanians rose by 9 per cent to approximately JD65.04 million, compared to JD59.4 million during the same period last year, according to the report. 

Apartment investments accounted for roughly JD39.6 million, a slight decrease of 0.75 per cent from JD 39.9 million in 2024. In contrast, land investments increased by 30 per cent, reaching JD 25.4 million, up from JD 19.5 million last year.

Iraqi nationals topped the list of non-Jordanian property owners in terms of both volume and value. They acquired 170 properties, followed by Saudis with 143 and Syrians with 66.

In terms of investment value, Iraqis led with JD23.7 million, accounting for 36 per cent of total foreign ownership, followed by Americans (JD8.75 million), Syrians (JD4.39 million), and Saudis (JD2.8 million).

April recorded a considerable increase in foreign property ownership, with 203 transactions, up 20 per cent from April 2024 and 17 per cent from March 2025. The estimated value of April’s transactions reached JD 16.1 million, marking a 56 per cent year-on-year increase and a 22 per cent rise from March. Apartment sales comprised JD 9.11 million (57 per cent), while land sales made up JD 6.98 million (43 per cent).

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, attended a security exercise carried out jointly by JAF, the General Intelligence Department (GID), and the Public Security Directorate (PSD) at the Special Police Training Centre.

GID Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni, PSD Director Maj. Gen. Obaidallah Maaytah, and Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Assistant for Operations and Training Brig. Gen. Naji Manaseer attended the exercise, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The exercise included a number of training scenarios, tasks, and security applications carried out by armed forces and security agencies personnel using technology, drones, and robots.

His Majesty expressed pride in the advanced skills of the participants in military and security work, in addition to their professionalism and readiness to respond to various developments and challenges.