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AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld an August 2022 State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a drug dealer to over three years in prison after convicting him of possessing illegal narcotics in Amman in May 2022.

The court declared the defendant guilty of obtaining illegal narcotics with the intent of selling the drugs to an undercover agent in Amman on May 19.

The SSC handed the defendant five years in prison for the offence of possessing illegal narcotics and ordered him to pay JD5,000 in fines.

However, the court decided to reduce the fine to JD3,500 and the prison term to three years and four months in prison to give the defendant a second chance in life.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was in possession of illegal narcotics and sent one of its agents to pose as a buyer.

“The AND agent got in touch with the defendant and asked him for dozens of Captagon pills and Hashish in return for JD370,” court documents said.

When the two met, AND agents immediately arrested the suspect, court papers added.   

The officers escorted the defendant to his house where they found an additional amount of illegal narcotics, the court added. 

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that the court “did not provide solid evidence to implicate his client”.

The lawyer claimed that there were irregularities in the investigation procedures.

Meanwhile, the SSC prosecution office asked the higher court to uphold the sentence and the fine imposed on the defendant.

The higher court maintained that the SSC had followed the proper procedures in issuing the sentence against the defendant.

“It was clear to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to possessing the illegal drugs to sell in the local market,” the higher court said.

The Court of Cassation judges were Yassin Abdullat, Nayef Samarat, Mohammad Khashashneh, Qassem Dughmi and Hammad Ghzawi.

AMMAN — Yarmouk University (YU) achieved advanced results in the QS World University Rankings by Subjects for 2025, reflecting the university's vision of academic development and excellence.

According to the ranking results, the university was advanced for the first time in the two general axes, social sciences and management, achieving a 501-550 range, while it landed 451-500 in engineering and technology areas.

The university also achieved "notable" progress in general subjects, mainly arts and humanities, ranking 401-450 internationally, while maintaining its position in archaeology at 201-260 worldwide, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

At the specialisation level, the university "successfully" entered this ranking for the first time for a slew of sub-majors. In languages, it was ranked 301-350 and moved to 501-600 internationally in the mathematics field.

Additionally, the university achieved a "remarkable" academic achievement in the medical field, as it entered the ranking for the first time, reaching a global range of 701-750.

In the same context, the university recorded "remarkable" academic progress in computer and information science, reaching a global rank of 401-450.

The ranking results also witnessed the university's progress in the field of business administration, ranking globally at 501-550.

YU President Islam Massad said the university is "advancing rapidly on the path to excellence and innovation through its commitment to embodying quality principles" in its curricula, research, and academic plans.

Massad noted this effort reflected in the "remarkable" progress in global rankings, which is an "important" indicator for labour markets, as global employers seek to attract qualified graduates from universities with advanced global rankings.

AMMAN — Raghad Saqqa on Wednesday presented her credentials to French President Emmanuel Macron as Jordan's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Andorra, which is under the joint sovereignty of France and Spain.

During a ceremony at the Elysée Palace in Paris, Saqqa conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Abdullah to President Macron, who serves as Co-Prince of Andorra, the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

In turn, President Macron conveyed his best wishes to King Abdullah, praising his leadership and expressing his hope for Jordan's continued development and prosperity.

AMMAN — Jordan on Wednesday expressed its support for Saudi Arabia’s hosting of talks between the US and Ukraine, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah reiterated Jordan’s belief that the talks could pave the way for an end to hostilities while reinforcing international peace and security. 

He also commended Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in facilitating the dialogue, highlighting its ongoing efforts to help achieve a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has announced plans to approach Iraqi authorities to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Iraqi oil supplies to Jordan, set to expire on June 26, 2025.

The ministry said that the current oil supply agreement, signed between the Iraqi Ministry of Oil and the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, will remain in effect until its expiration, with a formal request for renewal to be submitted before the deadline, Al Mamlaka TV reported.

The ministry added that the Kingdom imported 688,644 barrels of Iraqi crude oil from January to February 2025. Since the agreement’s renewal in July 2024, total imports have reached 2,154,554 barrels as of February 28, 2025.

Under the existing MoU, Iraq supplies Jordan with up to 15,000 barrels of crude oil per day at a discount of $16 per barrel from the monthly average Brent crude price to account for quality differences and transportation costs. This supply meets around 10 per cent of Jordan’s total crude oil demand.

• Labour minister says 43,333 beneficiaries of national employment programme, 32,339 job opportunities available
• Jordan's per capita water supply to drop without National Water Carrier Project - minister

AMMAN — The Lower House convened a monitoring session on Wednesday, presided over by Speaker Ahmed Safadi and attended by the government team, to address parliamentary inquiries and review the government's responses.

During the session, the House referred the 2025 draft amendment to the Competition Law to the Parliamentary Investment Committee for further discussion. 

The proposed amendments aim to strengthen market competition and improve enforcement mechanisms in line with international best practices, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Key changes include restructuring the Competition Directorate at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply into an independent Competition Protection Department, which will report directly to the minister and be led by a director-general.

Labour Minister Khalid Bakar responded to a question from MP Khalid Bani Atiyah regarding the National Employment Programme. 

The minister said that 43,333 individuals have benefited from the initiative so far, with 32,339 job opportunities currently available. The discussion focused on maximising the programme’s benefits for Jordanian citizens and private sector companies.

Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abul Saud responded to a question from MP Nour Abu Ghosh regarding the National Water Carrier Project, saying that completing the project would raise the per capita water share to 90 cubic metres annually. 

Abul Saud also warned that Jordan’s per capita water share, currently at 61 cubic metres per year, could drop to 30 cubic metres if the National Water Carrier Project is not implemented.

He noted that with the National Water Carrier and the Water Loss Reduction Programme in place, water wastage could be cut to just 2 per cent of total consumption, provided necessary measures were enforced, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Abul Saud underscored the urgency of addressing water losses, as they directly impact citizens’ access to water. He stressed the ministry’s commitment to enhancing water sustainability and ensuring a secure drinking water supply for all Jordanians.

Highlighting Jordan’s status as one of the world’s most water-scarce countries, he noted the Kingdom’s heavy reliance on groundwater due to limited surface water resources.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met in Doha on Wednesday with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The meeting came ahead of a meeting of the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE minister of state at the foreign ministry, and the secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

- Attendees hail Jordan’s vital role in supporting Palestinians, stress importance of Hashemite Custodianship of Jerusalem's Muslim, Christian holy sites
- Jerusalem Waqf, Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs director praises King’s staunch position in defending Palestinians' rights, support for Palestinian state, his rejection of displacement, resettlement
- Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem underlines importance of His Majesty’s role as Hashemite Custodian of Muslim, Christian holy places in Jerusalem
- Jerusalem Grand Mufti thanks Jordan, His Majesty for Hashemite Custodianship, expresses appreciation of Kingdom’s support for Palestinians’ steadfastness 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday received representatives of the Jerusalem awqaf, church leaders, Jerusalemites, as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Al Husseiniya Palace. 

During the meeting, a number of attendees spoke about Jordan’s vital role, under the leadership of His Majesty, in supporting Palestinians, and the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, according to a Royal Court statement. 

 Jerusalem Waqf and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Director Sheikh Mohammad Azzam Al Khatib praised the King’s staunch position in defending the rights of the nation and of Palestinians, highlighting His Majesty’s continuous support for the Palestinian state and his rejection of displacement and resettlement in any form.

Khatib also expressed appreciation for the King’s call to rebuild Gaza and cease hostilities, as well as his efforts to alleviate the suffering of Gazans through the provision of relief and medical aid.

 Through the support and guidance of His Majesty, noted Khatib, the Jerusalem Waqf and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department has been able to complete a number of Hashemite restoration projects, the statement said. 

 For his part, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III spoke about the importance of His Majesty’s role as the Hashemite Custodian of Muslim and Christian holy places in Jerusalem, adding that it is a great political and historical responsibility, and a trust with spiritual and cultural dimensions that protects the very fabric of the Holy Land and preserves its unique character.

He warned that the Christian presence in the Holy Land is facing serious challenges due to organised attacks by Israeli extremists to illegitimately acquire and occupy properties historically held by Christians in sensitive locations, in a systematic attempt to change the demographic and spiritual character of Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land.

 Patriarch Theophilos III also warned against the growing threat of Christian Zionism, noting that it is a fundamentalist movement that misinterprets and misuses the Christian message for political ends, according to the statement. 

He highlighted the increasing attempts to impose restrictions on freedom of worship and access to holy sites, and the continued threat of subjecting church properties to Israeli municipal taxation.

Meanwhile, Jerusalem Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Hussein thanked Jordan and His Majesty for the role of the Hashemite Custodianship, expressing appreciation of the Kingdom’s support for Palestinians’ steadfastness against attempts at displacement, the statement said. 

For his part, General Vicar and Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine William Shomali thanked the King for his humanitarian stance and support to Palestinians.

 He also stressed that the Catholic Church does not accept the canonisation of Palestine in the name of the Jewish people based on the Torah, as claimed by Christian Zionism in the United States, noting that the Torah was revealed to support the poor and the oppressed, worship God, and establish justice and peace on earth.

Shomali praised Royal support to Palestinian students, noting the launch, under Royal directives, of an online Palestinian-curriculum educational platform by the World Islamic Sciences and Education University that has seen over one million registrations to date by Palestinian students, half of whom are in Gaza.

He reiterated that the people of Palestine do not accept an alternative homeland.

 For his part, Mustafa Abu Sway, the Ghazali Chair professor at Al Quds University, emphasised that Palestinians are heartened by His Majesty’s determination that Palestinians remain on their land, and his rejection of displacement. 

 He also expressed Palestinians’ pride in the King and highlighted that the Hashemite Custodianship is an international legal responsibility and an extension of the Pact of Omar—in reference to the treaty by Omar ibn al Khattab, one of Prophet Muhammad’s companions and the second caliph, which protected the rights of Christian worshippers in Jerusalem. 

 His Majesty also hosted an iftar for the attendees.