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AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday met with US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley at Basman Palace, and discussed the strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States, especially in military cooperation.

 King Abdullah expressed appreciation for the United States’ support for Jordan in development and defence, according to a Royal Court statement.

Discussions also covered regional and international efforts to counter terrorism within a holistic approach, the statement said.

 Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Al Khasawneh, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, and the accompanying US delegation attended the meeting.

AMMAN — Heads of delegations of Arab countries hosting Palestinian refugees on Sunday highlighted His Majesty King Abdullah’s continual defence of the Palestinian cause and holy sites at all international events and his support to UNRWA to continue its duties towards refugees in the education and health sectors, among others.  

During an Amman-held coordination meeting for host countries and the Arab League organised by the Jordanian Department of Palestinian Affairs, the delegates stressed that there is “no alternative” for UNRWA besides the return of refugees to their occupied homeland through implementing the relevant international resolutions on the return of refugees.

Delivering the Kingdom's speech, Director General of the Jordanian Department of Palestinian Affairs Rafiq Kherfan said that Amman has never spared any effort in defending national causes, at the top of which is the Palestinian cause, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Kherfan also expressed the Kingdom's condemnation of the Israeli occupation’s practices and crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories and Jerusalem, as well as its attacks against Gaza and the siege that has been imposed on the enclave for more than 12 years, which has turned it into a prison. 

For his part, head of the Arab League delegation Haidar Jbouri said that King Abdullah spares no international effort to defend the Palestinian cause and UNRWA, noting that the UN agency has gone through difficult financial conditions, which call for joint efforts and the support of donors. 

Head of the Palestinian delegation Ahmad Abu Houli stressed that host countries, including Jordan, are “not alternative countries for Palestinians”, who insist on their right to return.

AMMAN — Parliament on Sunday presented its response to the Speech from the Throne, delivered by His Majesty King Abdullah on November 10 to inaugurate the 18th Parliament’s fourth ordinary session.

The Senate’s response, delivered by Senate President Faisal Fayez at Raghadan Palace, highlighted the King's directives to the government in the Speech from the Throne to take economic and financial measures to alleviate the burden on citizens, stressing the importance of implementation, according to a Royal Court statement.

The Senate will provide support for such measures, Fayez noted, adding that senators will follow up on implementation in service of Jordan.

Fayez commended His Majesty’s decision to terminate the Peace Treaty annexes on Baqura and Al Ghamr, stressing that the King’s speech gave Jordanians hope and reassurance, the statement said. 

The Senate president also expressed congratulations to His Majesty on receiving the 2019 Scholar-Statesman Award.

The Lower House’s response, delivered by Speaker Atef Tarawneh, also noted the optimistic tone in the Speech from the Throne and praised the King’s decision on the border lands Baqura and Al Ghamr.

Tarawneh said deputies are committed to His Majesty’s directives to draft and amend legislation that safeguards judicial neutrality, noting that the House will cooperate with the government on bold decisions that reflect positively on the economy and on citizens’ lives, the statement said.

The speaker underscored the House’s commitment to its oversight role and its readiness to cooperate with and support other branches of government.

A number of Royal family members and senior officials attended the Parliament’s response.

AMMAN — The international humanitarian organisation Mercy Corps on Sunday held a speed-mentoring event for business entrepreneurs and mentors to raise awareness about their recently launched MicroMentor platform.

Launched in 2009 in the US, MicroMentor is a free social network that connects entrepreneurs to volunteer business mentors. The platform is now available in 179 countries, reaching 69,000 entrepreneurs and 25,000 mentors, according to Mercy Corps.

The MicroMentor platform was officially launched in Jordan in April 2019 and will be made available in Arabic in January 2020.

“Bringing the platform to Jordan was our first step in bringing it to the region,” said Kari Diener, country director for Mercy Corps in Jordan.

“This platform is the first one of its type in Jordan. It democratises mentoring and allows people, including people in remote areas, to access mentors in Jordan, in the region and, of course, globally,” the director said.

“The aim here in Jordan is to target small and micro entrepreneurs, including home-based businesses,” she said, adding that, while Amman is a large hub for entrepreneurial and networking activity, there is "so much potential" in other cities around the Kingdom, including Irbid, Mafraq, Karak, Maan and Tafileh.

“Our goal is for MicroMentor to become popular all around Jordan and the region, and the language barrier is a hindrance against that. So that is why we are going to launch a fully localised, fully Arabic platform in January next year,” said Khaleel Najjar, the programme manager for MicroMentor Jordan. 

“Think of someone who wants to open a small shop in Mafraq; think of a home-based business opened by a lady in Ajloun who wants to sell her product. Those are in need of mentoring more than anybody else, because they want advice that helps them to survive and get access to a decent economic opportunity,” he added.

Since 2003, Mercy Corps has been working to support Jordanians as well as Syrian refugees. “Our programs strive to meet basic needs, build strong and engaged communities, increase economic opportunities and promote growth that also protects scarce natural resources,” the organisation says on its website.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Sunday received NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General André Lanata and an accompanying delegation.

The two sides discussed the partnership between Jordan and NATO and the latest regional developments, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

AMMAN — Following “extensive efforts” by the Foreign Ministry, Jordanians Thamer Quteishat and Hamdi Milhem on Sunday were released in Sanaa after Houthi rebels detained them on November 7.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Deifallah Fayez said that Quteishat and Milhem were in Yemen to carry out a financial audit of humanitarian programmes in the country, according to a ministry statement.

The spokesperson praised the efforts and cooperation of UN personnel, primarily the office of the UN’s special envoy to Yemen. 

AMMAN — The absence of truth and accurate information from the media will lead to the spread of rumours and the dissemination of misleading information, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said on Sunday.

During a meeting with media spokespersons at ministries and government institutions, Adaileh stressed the importance of swift announcements and responses to questions and inquiries by media outlets and the public. He noted that “the slow flow of information leads to ambiguity”, which fosters the spread of rumours and “confusion” among the public, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.  

AMMAN — The Samra Electric Power Generation Company and the Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Company on Sunday signed an agreement to operate and implement maintenance for the 80-megawatt Maan Wind Station to preserve the facility's operational efficiency.

According to a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the agreement was signed by Sufian Bataineh, director general of the Samra Company, and Paula García, head of Siemens Gamesa’s service sales in Southern Europe and Africa.

Bataineh said that the 10-year deal entails the transfer of expertise from Siemens Gamesa to Samra employees, highlighting the importance of the agreement in guaranteeing the security of the power supply. 

AMMAN — Food sector exports increased by 5.4 per cent in the first eight months of 2019, compared with the same period of 2018. Muhammad Jitan, representative of the sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, said that the value of exports during the January-August period of 2019 totalled JD237 million, compared with JD224 million in the first eight months of 2018, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Jitan noted that the sector's production amounts to 23 per cent of the Kingdom’s total industrial production, with an annual value of JD4 billion, adding that the food sector comprises some 15 per cent, or 2,645 of the total number of industrial facilities in Jordan.

The sector provides some 50,000 jobs with a total registered capital of JD641 million and assets of JD2 billion, he pointed out. 

AMMAN — The weather is forecast to remain moderate on Monday and warm on Tuesday, with a chance of light rainfall in the north and east of the Kingdom on Wednesday, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).

The JMD warned of low visibility on Monday and Tuesday in badia areas due to winds, and possible danger from slippery roads in areas that might witness rain on Wednesday.

In Amman, temperatures are forecast to range between 20°C and 8°C on Monday, increasing to a high of 24°C and a low of 11°C on Tuesday and then dropping again to range between 21°C and 11°C on Wednesday.

In Zarqa, Monday temperatures are forecast to see a high of 21°C and a low of 4°C, while on Tuesday temperatures will reach a high of 25°C and a low of 7°C. On Wednesday, temperatures are forecast to range between 22°C and 7°C.

The JMD forecasts Monday temperatures reaching a high of 26°C during the day and a low of 13°C at night in Aqaba, where mercury levels are expected to range between 30°C and 17°C on Tuesday and 28°C and 18°C on Wednesday.