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AMMAN — The Kingdom will witness a new depression starting Thursday afternoon, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department.

The department said that as Thursday evening approaches, the Kingdom will gradually be affected by a cold and humid air mass accompanying a depression, classified as a “second-class” depression.

The number of clouds is expected to multiply and rainfall is expected in the northern and central parts of the Kingdom, with moderate southwesterly wind.

 According to the department, the depression will most likely be preceded by a slight rise in temperatures on Wednesday and relative stability in the weather with the dispersal of high clouds, but will remain cool during the day and cold at night. 

The depression will become noticeable as of noon on Thursday, starting from the northern region and then the central region later on, followed by the southern and eastern regions, as temperatures decrease with chances of rain accompanied by thunder begin.

Accumulation of rain during the coming depression is expected to be between 20 and 40mm in the northern region and between 10 and 30mm in the central region, while less than 10mm of rain is expected in the southern and eastern regions.

The National Electricity Company anticipates that the maximum load of the electrical system during the air depression in the Kingdom until next Friday will reach 3200 MW.

In a press statement on Tuesday, the electric company said that it is preparing for the depression by declaring a state of emergency in its stations across the Kingdom.

According to the company’s data, the maximum load during the current winter season is expected to reach about 3400 MW. The total obstetric capacity of the conventional stations available on the electrical system in the winter reaches 4350 MW.

The statement added: “The National Electricity Company, through its National Monitoring and Control Centre, works to meet the growing demand for electricity in the winter through operational plans appropriate to the current situation and to ensure the readiness of all generation stations and transmission lines, accommodating any urgent increase in electricity demand.”

AMMAN —  The 16th edition of the China Trade Fair for Machinery and Homelife opened its doors to the public in Amman on Tuesday at the Zara Expo and Auditorium, offering a wide array of products for public perusal.

On behalf of Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Hammouri inaugurated the fair with the participation of Chinese Ambassador Pan Weifang and the attendance of representatives of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, the Amman Chamber of Industry and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and a number of officials and high-profile figures, according to an organiser statement.

More than 450 China-based companies brought diverse products to Jordanian traders, industrialists and businesspeople featuring modern and emerging technologies in high-quality models, with guarantees that correspond with Jordanian and Arab markets, the statement added.

The fair provides a platform to market plastic manufacturing machinery, packaging and packing machines, industrial articles, electrical tools, textile and garment manufacturing equipment, household appliances, lighting systems, cosmetics, educational materials and stationary supply.

“The fair for the 16th time underscores and mirrors the interest of the Chinese side in keeping the bilateral ties between Jordan, China and the Arab World in all respects, chief among them being economic cooperation,” CEO of Petra Conferences and Exhibitions Company Wael Kawar was quoted in the statement as saying.

Kawar welcomed the Chinese exhibitors and representatives who endeavour to contribute to Middle Eastern markets through offering high-quality products at low prices, noting the “outstanding” bilateral ties between Jordan and China owing to the generous support of the countries’ governments. 

 “This event is the product of 42 years of ties between the Kingdom and China, based on respect, joint cooperation and amity,” Kawar said.

The trade show houses more than 400 booths, which market 5,000 products, enabling buyers to meet face-to-face with vendors and suppliers, according to the China Trade Fair Facebook page.

Jasen, Sales Manager for a Chinese food technology company, said that the China Trade Fair is a “distinguished” place to highlight a brand.

“It is my first time in Jordan, and we want to take this chance to expand our business, which is canned tomato paste. We chose Jordan as a place to export our product,” the Sales Manager told The Jordan Times at the event. 

The Jordan Tourism Board is also hosting a booth at the fair, with the aim of promoting the Jordanian tourism product to visitors, given the large number of foreigners who come to the exhibition.

“This booth is considered to be a major lightning rod to attract tourists to heritage and nature-based tourism sites in Jordan, so in every fair, expo or event the JTB has its place to show Jordan’s beauty to the world,” JTB Representative Malik Shahin told  The Jordan Times.      

Organised by Meorient International Exhibitions and Petra Conferences and Exhibitions, the three-day event is open until Thursday, December 12 from 11am—7pm.

HRH Crown Prince Hussein, the Regent, on Tuesday visited the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF).

Crown Prince Hussein was received by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti and a number of senior JAF officers, according to a Royal Court statement. His Royal Highness met with Huneiti and discussed a number of issues concerning the JAF 

AMMAN — Deputy Mission Director of USAID Margaret Spears on Monday joined Director of Al Jizeh Directorate Jalal Al Jibreen to inaugurate the Um Qsair Non-Formal Education Girls Centre in Al Jizeh district, according to a USAID statement. 

“The US Embassy is proud to partner with the Ministry of Education to ensure students who have fallen outside of the formal education system can earn their diploma and secure employment. The United States is committed to investing in the enormous potential of Jordan’s youth,” Spears said at the inauguration.

The Um Qsair Non-Formal Education Girls Centre in Al Jizeh is one of 40 non-formal education centers opened throughout Jordan since 2015 as part of USAID’s partnership with the Ministry of Education. These centres, which will serve 3,500 students, are the only ministry-accredited opportunity for young adults aged 13-20 to reenter formal or vocational education, the statement said.

The US economic assistance programme to Jordan is the largest in the world.  The United States government, through USAID, has provided foreign assistance from the American people to Jordan for nearly 70 years, according to the statement.

AMMAN — Just in time for the festive season, and charming the inner child in all those who view his works, Venezuelan toymaker Mario Calderon is gracing Amman with his, and his toys’, presence.

In his magical universe, wooden toys come to life, stimulate the imagination, enchant the eye and leave one in awe. In a simple yet difficult to fathom manner, master Calderon uses simple physics laws and a load of imagination, to not only create his toys — singers, acrobats, dressmakers (as a homage to his mother), soldiers, animals — but to also make them move in unlikely ways, to the delight of the viewer.

Born in Caracas, he had studied music — percussion and strings — before going to Merida to study medicine, carrying childhood toys with him. Later, with the money made from music, he would buy more toys; at the recommendation of a teacher familiar with his passion, he discovered a shop that was selling toys “just like mine”. The sight of the toy soldiers “stirred deep emotions” and let his artistic streak genie out of the bottle, making him abandon medicine in the last year.

It took his fiancée’s encouragement “to make my own toys” to start a career that now spans 30 years, that helped him get over her untimely death in an accident and that “makes me happy”. 

And happy they make all those who see his delicately balanced acrobats, “characters” portraying his country’s traditions, levitating, twirling, sliding, climbing, playing instruments, sewing and riding horses, or his “floating” ships bobbing up and down on waves, his musicians actually producing music at the turn of a lever, elephants or horses in precarious balance, flying trapeze gymnasts, a chess board and more.

Seeing this delightful world, it is difficult to believe that sheer imagination and a few cranks, knobs, pulleys or plain elastic bands can bring it to life and create charming tableaux that keep the eyes glued to them.

Master Calderon’s toys received important awards both in his country and elsewhere, including the UNESCO Award of Excellence for Handicrafts.

The toymaker and collector, based on whose life two Venezuelan audiovisual creators produced the movie “The Toymaker”, has thousands of pieces in his house in Merida that span well over a century — from contemporary to toys that were made as far back as 1860.

Visitors are many and the privilege of entering his enchanting universe comes free of charge.

His colourful wooden toys have been exhibited in many museums on four continents; some are permanently exhibited in the Santa Fe Museum of Folk Art.

Now he has an exhibition at the Toy Museum in Istanbul, which will later be itinerant, travelling to other cities in Turkey, and for a few days he is in Amman, where his toys will be on display, and for sale, on the premises of the Venezuelan embassy in Amman, for the local and Venezuelan community, until December 15.

Adapting some to the place, Calderon has crafted toys in traditional Jordanian costumes, some riding horses or camels; an endearing sight.

The toys, painted mainly in bright primary colours that are sure to attract the eye and children’s attention, and their mesmerising mechanical qualities make one feel happy. 

Adults cannot help but feel nostalgic and delighted by the dainty figures that send them back in time. Children, living in their virtual world, will probably find the real three-dimensional toys strange or incomprehensible. Whatever the age of their viewers, though, one thing is sure: The toys are worth seeing and marvelling at.

AMMAN — On Monday, which marked International Anti-Corruption Day, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) announced a new partnership to support anti-corruption and integrity efforts in the Arab region, according to a joint statement. 

The partnership aims to enable stakeholders to develop and implement required laws in line with international standards, institutionalise corruption prevention in priority government sectors to enhance the effectiveness of public administration and mobilise knowledge and capacities to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16 that focuses on “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”.  

This new partnership will benefit stakeholders across the region over the next four years, giving priority to seven countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia, the statement said. 

Building on results that the UNDP achieved in anti-corruption and integrity in Arab countries over the past decade, the new regional project allows KOICA and the UNDP to engage more than 5,000 beneficiaries from governments, civil society and the business community.

 “Our new partnership with KOICA will allow the UNDP to significantly expand its cooperation with countries in the region and support their efforts to comply with the UN Convention against Corruption,” Susanne Dam-Hansen, acting director of the UNDP’s Regional Hub for Arab States based in Amman, was quoted in the statement as saying.

“This work is critical to the region’s pursuit of fulfilling the promise of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and its 17 goals,” she added.

Kim Hyo-jin, country director of KOICA-Jordan Office, highlighted in her remarks that “corruption threatens and undermines democratic institutions, adversely affects governmental instability and slows down economic development”, according to the statement.

“The Republic of Korea is pleased to join the global movement against corruption and we look forward to working closely together to achieve more transparent societies keeping the sustainable development goals of 2030 at the apex,” she said.

To inaugurate their partnership, the UNDP and KOICA convened a regional expert panel to deliberate the future of anti-corruption and integrity reforms in the region in light of the 2030 agenda, with participation of senior public officials, prominent experts and civil society representatives from eight Arab countries. 

Against the backdrop of rising public demands for more decisive action against corruption, participants shared experiences, lessons learned and good practices at the national, regional and international levels, exploring the links with sustainable development efforts that “leave no one behind”, the statement read.

They highlighted the “disproportionate impact” that corruption has on the poor and marginalised groups, especially women and youth, calling for stronger laws and more consistent implementation efforts. They also stressed the value of integrating early detection systems in all sectors and making use of modern technologies to reduce the risks of corrupt practices. Participants also recognised that more efforts are needed to strengthen the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies and judicial and audit bodies and called for wider public participation in reform efforts, the statement concluded.

AMMAN — Under Royal directives to reach out to members of Bir Al Sabe’ tribes and follow up on their needs and concerns with the aim of reducing poverty and unemployment, Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi on Tuesday visited the tribes residing in Karak and Aqaba.

This visit falls under the wider goal of communicating with citizens residing in all areas of the Kingdom, prioritising their demands and providing them with services according to the Royal directive to improve citizens’ living standards, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

“This visit stems from the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah, who directed relevant authorities to visit Bir Al Sabe’ tribes and prioritise their needs and demands during his meeting last week with representatives and leading figures from the tribes, as part of the Basman Forum meetings at the Royal Hashemite Court,” Issawi said.

He added that the King constantly directs the government to work on improving the living conditions of citizens and providing them with quality services, adding that His Majesty directs relevant authorities to implement developmental projects, create new jobs and reinforce an entrepreneurial culture to encourage initiative and self-reliance.

According to Issawi, His Majesty, during his meeting with representatives and leading figures from Bir Al Sabe’ tribes last week, highlighted the importance of creating a community-based committee to outline the priorities and needs of Bir Al Sabe’.

During Issawi’s visit, tribe notables and representatives reviewed priority demands concerning healthcare, combatting unemployment and poverty, creating productive projects that generate income and improving public transportation.

They also demanded establishing vocational training centres to create employment opportunities and improving charities, youth clubs and sports and cultural clubs, in addition to supporting enterprises that financially empower women and youth.

The representatives called for establishing care and rehabilitation centres for people with disabilities, creating public parks and supporting agricultural projects, as well as rehabilitating schools and establishing new schools in residential complexes.

AMMAN — Deputising for Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Musa Maaytah on Tuesday affirmed the government's keenness to improve the human rights situation in Jordan, citing the 10-year comprehensive plan that was initiated in 2016 with that aim.

Maaytah made his remarks during an event titled "The Status of Human Rights in Jordan" held by HIMAM, a civil society coordinating coalition in the Kingdom, in Amman.  

The minister said that the 10-year comprehensive national plan for human rights involves all concerned entities, aiming to boost partnership between the executive and legislative authorities to gather recommendations and proposals to be manifested as laws and regulations. 

Soon, the government will announce what has been achieved from the plan, Maaytah said, noting that in the past four years, the greatest part of the plan has been accomplished.  

In spite of this fact, Coordinator of HIMAM and Executive President of the Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists Nidal Mansour said at the event: "The status of human rights in Jordan is not well, according to the latest annual report of the National Centre for Human Rights [NCHR]."

"The government thus needs to research quickly the approach to address these challenges [facing human rights] and improve Jordan's indicators in the field," Mansour continued.

"This is a report by the NCHR, not a civil society institution, but rather a national institute of the state," Mansour said, noting that it is important for the Kingdom to compare itself to countries “doing well” in the field of human rights rather than countries “doing poorly”.  

He said that HIMAM is working on a paper to institutionalise cooperation between civil society institutions and the government, and will keep on supporting the human rights situation through coordinating with the government coordination team on human rights, as well as other concerned entities. 

For his part, Chairperson of the NCHR's Board of Trustees Irhail Gharaibeh said that "human rights are like a complicated network integrated in all aspects of life, making them a product of a comprehensive system of tools, factors and matters that regulate human life".

Thus, human rights are “not complete” unless implemented within a democratic hub under proper governance, where people belong to a society that provides them with the rights to proper education, health, work, freedom of speech and non-discrimination. 

"At the NCHR, we cooperate with all authorities, specialised parties and civil society institutions to improve Jordan to serve as a role model in the region," Gharaibeh said, noting that the centre rejects all forms of administrative detention and ruling based on political views that are not violent or harmful.

Senior Human Rights Advisor at the Office of the UN Ekkehard Strauss said that the United Nations this year chose "youth" as the International Human Rights Day theme.

He highlighted the importance of empowering Jordanian youth, especially girls and marginalised segments, through training and education, so they can take informed decisions about their lives.

During the event, EU Ambassador to Jordan Maria Hadjitheodosiou said that the European Union's human rights and democracy policy encompasses several political, economic, social and cultural rights, and the EU views all human rights as universal and interdependent. 

The EU believes in democracy as the only political system which can fully realise all human rights, Hadjitheodosiou said, noting that any country that aims at joining the union must have respect for human rights. 

"Sustainable peace and stability, long-term development and prosperity, cannot exist without respect for human rights and democratic and inclusive institutions," the EU ambassador pointed out.

She added that stability in the Kingdom is critical for the region, which she described as the top partnership priority, as the EU will work on supporting Jordan in this field, with belief in the role of organisations in promoting freedom, democracy and human rights in Jordan and throughout the world. 

The event included two panel discussions: "Human rights crisis, examples and challenges" and "Overcoming the human rights crisis, a vision of the present and future", according to organisers. 

A human rights exhibition was also integrated into the event, providing an open space for civil society institutions to showcase their programmes, projects and activities and present their studies and reports to visitors. 

The exhibition aimed at supporting university and school students through raising awareness about human rights issues and civil society institutions and their work.

Also on Tuesday, Razzaz met with a group of people with disabilities and highlighted the support the government provides, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

During the meeting, the premier discussed measures, decisions and national regulations aimed at taking care of people with disabilities and providing them with an honourable life as part of national duty and human rights endeavours.

The meeting, during which the prime minister listened to the demands and needs of people with disabilities on matters that would make their lives easier, was attended by the Government Coordinator for Human Rights Abeer Dababneh. 

AMMAN — Azeri Ambassador to Jordan Rasim Rzayev in an embassy statement on Tuesday highlighted the importance of His Majesty King Abdullah’s visit to Azerbaijan upon an invitation by President Ilham Aliyev.

Rzayev said that, while King Abdullah’s visit is not the first, it is the most important due to developments in regional and international affairs and its purpose of enhancing bilateral relations, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The ambassador said that His Majesty will hold several meetings on the sidelines of the visit, focusing on enhancing Amman-Baku cooperation in various economic, commercial and investment fields.

The diplomat added that Jordan was among the first countries to recognise the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991, noting that diplomatic ties began in 1993. He also highlighted that the two countries have signed some 40 agreements to boost cooperation.

AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti and British Defence Senior Adviser to the Middle East Lt. Gen. Sir John Lorimer on Tuesday discussed the latest regional and international developments. Discussions also covered means to enhance cooperation and coordination in issues that serve the interests of the two countries’ armed forces, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Also on Tuesday, Huneiti and Pakistani Ambassador to Jordan Junaid Rehmat reviewed means to enhance cooperation aspects between the two countries’ armed forces. Director General of the Gendarmerie Directorate Maj. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh also met with Sir Lorimer over means to enhance cooperation in the fields of security training and expertise exchange. Lorimer expressed his country’s keenness to develop defence and security ties with Jordan and to support the Kingdom’s efforts in the war against terrorism.