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AMMAN — Public and private organisations and officials from the ministries of higher education and labour on Tuesday gathered at the residence of the French Ambassador in Amman David Bertolotti, to celebrate the awarding of the first scholarships provided to Jordanian students to pursue their education in France.

Co-financed by the embassy and private companies under the new “Embassy/Companies” programme, the scholarship programme aims to meet the commitment of the French ambassador to increase mobility to France and promote the employability of young Jordanians through better adaptability to the needs of the labour market, according to Bertolotti.

“A few months after taking office in Jordan, I decided to review our cooperation in the field of higher education with Jordan to better meet the needs of the market,” the ambassador said at the event, adding “therefore, we have actively worked in the area of vocational training and the development of this scholarship programme in partnership with companies is yet another priority area of our work “.

He stressed the businesses’ support to higher education as “essential” in terms of funding, expertise and training, calling on companies based in Jordan to strengthen their scholarship programmes.

Among the grants’ recipients is Ateff Alrabee, who, after receiving a French degree from the University of Yarmouk and spending ten years working in the tourism sector, will resume his studies to attend the Ecole Supérieure des Interprètes et Traducteurs at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University, one of the most renowned schools for interpreters and translators in Europe.

Serina Dabbah, for her part, will undertake a Master 2 in international management at the Institute for Administration at the University of Poitiers.

Engineering student at the University of Jordan Osama Hussein and architecture student at the University of Yarmouk Abdallah Ibrahim were granted scholarships to attend a summer school training on “smart cities and engineering for sustainable architecture”, which will take place in Paris and Troye.

According to official figures, over 250 Jordanians are currently studying in France and a number of Jordanian universities have academic partnerships with French institutions.

Moreover, more than 30 French companies represented in the Kingdom through subsidiaries or industrial or commercial franchises, are directly employing 6,300 Jordanians.

 In 2018, the French embassy offered 31 scholarships and short and long-term training to Jordanians.  

WASHINGTON, DC — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday met with US Vice President Mike Pence and discussed means to bolster the strategic partnership between Jordan and the US.

At the meeting, which was attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania and Second Lady Karen Pence and continued over dinner held in honour of Their Majesties and the accompanying delegation, discussions covered crises and issues in the Middle East and efforts to reach political solutions to end them.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Adviser to His Majesty and Director of the Office of His Majesty Manar Dabbas, and Jordan’s Ambassador to the United States Dina Kawar attended the meeting.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and US President Donald Trump held talks at the White House on Monday, covering the two countries’ strategic partnership, and regional and international developments.

During expanded talks, which were preceded by a meeting at the Oval Office attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania and First Lady Melania Trump, King Abdullah expressed Jordan’s appreciation for the United States’ support in economic and military areas, as well as for economic development programmes.

The expanded talks, attended by senior officials on both sides, covered the economic and financial challenges Jordan is facing — which are caused by regional crises — and the reforms and economic programmes the Kingdom is undertaking to overcome these challenges.

President Trump affirmed the United States’ commitment to stand by Jordan and support it economically.

Talks also covered regional developments, foremost of which are the Palestinian cause, the Syrian crisis, and efforts to achieve peace and bolster security and stability in the region.

Discussing the peace process, His Majesty stressed that the two-state solution which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil with East Jerusalem as its capital, is the only way to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and it is the cornerstone for achieving security and stability in the entire region.

The King underlined the importance of stepping up efforts to push the peace process forward by relaunching serious and effective negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, leading to just and lasting peace. His Majesty noted the United States’ important role in this regard.

Moreover, talks addressed current developments connected to the Syrian crisis and the importance of maintaining stability in the de-escalation zone in southwestern Syria, as well as respecting the agreement in this regard, which was reached last year by Jordan, the United States and Russia.

His Majesty reaffirmed the importance of intensifying international efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in Syria that guarantees security and stability for its people, while preserving the country’s territorial integrity.

The King’s talks with President Trump also covered overall conditions in the region, as well as regional and international efforts to fight terrorism within a holistic approach.

At the Oval Office meeting that preceded the expanded talks, His Majesty and President Trump, in brief remarks to the press, affirmed the deep ties of friendship and partnership between the two countries.

“Sir, if I could thank you and the United States and the people of America for all the support you have given our country,” the King said.

 “If the rest of the world just took a little bit of your humility and your grace to help us, we would be in a lot better position,” His Majesty added.

“On behalf of myself and my people, thank you so much for all that you have done for us,” the King told the US president.

For his part, President Trump said: “It is a great honour to have the King and Queen of Jordan with us. They’re friends, we’ve known each other now for quite a while, long before this. But you have done an incredible job on the refugees and the camps and taking care of people.”

 “Our nations have a very good relationship… The job you do on the humanitarian basis is fantastic, and I would like to thank you very much,” Trump added.

President Trump told reporters: “Remember, he [His Majesty] used the word ‘humility’ with respect to me... That’s probably the nicest compliment I have been given in a long time.”

“We spend a lot of money, but we spend a lot of money in a lot of places, and people don’t do the job that you do, so I want to thank you very much,” President Trump added, addressing the King.

Responding to questions on the Middle East, President Trump said: “We’re doing very well in the Middle East.”

He added: “I can only say this… we’re doing very well in the Middle East. A lot of progress has been made in the Middle East, a lot. And it really started with the end of the horrible Iran deal. That deal was a disaster, and things are a lot different since we ended that. A lot different.”

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Adviser to His Majesty and Director of the Office of His Majesty Manar Dabbas, Adviser to His Majesty for Economic Affairs Mohammad Eses, and Jordan’s Ambassador to the United States Dina Kawar attended the expanded talks.

In attendance on the US side were Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, Senior Adviser to the US President Jared Kushner, Assistant to the President and Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt, US Charge d’Affaires in Amman Henry Wooster, and a number of senior administration officials.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday sent a cable of congratulations to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his and his party’s victories in the presidential and parliamentarian elections in Turkey.

In the cable, His Majesty expressed the “sincerest congratulations on behalf of the people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and its government, stressing keenness to boost Jordanian-Turkish ties in various fields and in the interests of both countries and peoples”, a Royal Court statement said.

His Majesty wished President Erdogan continued good health, and the Turkish people further progress and prosperity.

Erdogan won a comfortable majority and his party, AKP, won 295 seats in the 600-MP chamber, while its ally, MHP, did far better than expected, winning 49 seats and giving their alliance a clear majority, according to results published by Anadolu News Agency.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz has asserted the government's commitment to and full respect for the judiciary’s independence and its willingness to provide the necessary resources to facilitate the job of the judicial branch and render its performance more efficient, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During his visit to the Judicial Council, where he met with its president Judge Mohammad Ghazo and the council's members, attended by Minister of Justice Awad Abu Jarad and Minister of State for Legal Affairs Mubarak Abu Yamin, the prime minister stressed the important role of the judicial authority in strengthening the rule of law and safeguarding human rights, pointing out the judiciary’s achievements in the recent years, especially the success in expediting the litigation process and adjudication of cases.

Razzaz discussed aspects of cooperation as well as ways to maintain effective communication and coordination between the executive and judicial branches to serve the country and its citizens. Razzaz highlighted the importance of working with the concerned bodies to work out mechanisms to expedite the execution of final judicial rulings.

For his part, Ghazo said that the support received by the judiciary from His Majesty King Abdullah, including the recommendations of the Royal Committee for Developing the Judiciary and the package of legislation passed by the Parliament have provided a conducive atmosphere for the development of the
judicial system. 

He also highlighted the most significant challenges facing the judiciary, including shortage of staff, pointing out that during the coming period, a group of judges will be appointed to support the judiciary and to ease the pressure on the judicial system, calling on the government to do its part and hire more administrative staff to man courts.

AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein and the Duke of Cambridge Prince William on Monday visited the ancient city of Jerash 48km north of Amman, A statement from the Royal Court said.

During the visit, the two princes toured the city, which is considered to be the largest complete Roman city outside Italy, according to the statement, including the Temple of Artemis, the colonnaded road, the Southern and the Northern Theatres. 

At the Southern Theatre, Crown Prince Hussein and Prince William watched a number of performances including poetry and folkloric shows presented by children from Jerash and children of Syrian refugees, who are beneficiaries of UNICEF's programme to support children “Makani". 

They were briefed on the programme, which aims to provide a safe environment for children through extracurricular activities, life skills and psychological support. Prince William chatted with a number of Syrian refugee families.

Also on Monday, Prince Hussein and Prince William visited the Rapid Response battalion in the Northern Military Zone, according to Petra.

Prince Hussein, who is the Regent, viewed a rapid response unit with its enhancements and its complete equipment that included weapons that have recently been acquired by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army.

Lt. Col. Khladoun Kaabneh, the battalion commander, briefed the two princes on the battalion's new location and its geographical features that are suitable for effective training. 

Earlier in the day, Prince William visited the Princess Taghrid Institute for Development and Training (PTI) in Ajloun's Kufranjeh, where he had a firsthand look at the Dar Nimeh Project.

PTI Director General Aghadir Jweihan presented a briefing on the Dar Nimeh Project, which is considered an important social development scheme that helps empower women in governorates and encourage them to be productive, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Jweihan, in the presence of PTI Deputy Chairperson Zain Majali, added that the project also aims at encouraging women to increase their families' incomes through marketing and delivering their products to consumers, after acquiring necessary skills to develop the quality of their products.

The project includes a distillation laboratory for roses and aromatic plants, which was established from support from the UNDP and the Finnish embassy, where women extract plant oils, water and rosewater, she added.

The director also spoke about the importance of the post-care programmes for orphans after the age of 18, which offer a comprehensive psychological, social and vocational programme in cooperation with the Social Development Ministry.

She noted that His Majesty King Abdullah, under a Royal initiative, provided the programme with a building for young girls between the ages of 18 and 24 to offer them social and vocational empowerment during the transitional phase.

Prince William also paid a visit to Luminus Technical University College, a subsidiary of Luminus Group, to check on the college's efforts in supporting vulnerable youth in Jordan through its programmes based on education for employment, according to Petra.

Prince William, who concluded his two-day visit to the Kingdom later in the day, inaugurated the hotel and tourism department at the college, which was established to simulate a five-star hotel, in a way that offers students an opportunity to train and learn in a real-life environment. 

Ibrahim Safadi, CEO of Luminus, welcomed the prince's visit to the Kingdom and the college, expressing his appreciation for Prince William's inauguration of the new department, which is envisioned to provide new jobs for the Jordanian youth.

Ayman Magableh, college dean, said that the college always conducts research to know market requirements and constantly contacts employers to identify the lacked skills and address such obstacles. 

AMMAN — After working on commercial photography for years, an American photographer recently came to Jordan to work with the large photo archive of the American Centre of Oriental Research (ACOR) in Amman.

Sorting out the archive consists of “many, many, small tasks” to perform on a daily basis, Steve Meyer, who studied photographic illustration at The Rochester Institute of Technology and is finishing his Master’s in library and information science from the Pratt Institute, told The Jordan Times.

“The biggest part of the job is to digitise the photographs as we currently have over 6,000 photographs in our archive but expect to have around 30,000 in three years’ time,” Meyer said, noting that the collections he and his team are scanning come from author/photographer Jane Taylor, journalist Rami Khouri and others.

Shot in colour and black and white, the pictures come from a period extending from the 1970’s to just a few years ago. 

“The scanning process is not complicated but it takes time and attention to do it correctly. We do a lot of cleaning before each photo is scanned and calibrate all of our equipment every single week to be sure the colour, tones and density of every image are true to the original,” Meyer emphasised.

His team includes a scanning technician who digitises hundreds of photos weekly, the ACOR Library Director and Assistant Librarian Carmen Al Ayoubi and Samya Khalaf Kafafi, who both do the research for the information attached to the images. 

The challenges faced by the team are similar to many archives as they have a lot of photographs and need to make sure that photos are described accurately, the photographer underlined. “To have so many photographs is wonderful but, if it is hard for the public to find them in our collection, they would not be useful,” he explained, noting that this is why the team carefully organises and adds metadata (information about the images) to each photo. 

Asked about the "duller" parts of the job, he said the technical aspects and computer technology can get boring as there are a lot of numbers involved with determining the proper resolution at which they can scan each photograph, the colour space to assign them and how to name the photos in the system.

“What non-professionals also won’t realise is how difficult it can be to make sure the colour in the photos always look right. Every monitor and device [phones, tablets, laptops] interprets the colour of a digital photo file a bit differently so the attention we put into our accuracy requires looking at the numbers that correspond to all digital technology,” Meyer underscored.

Furthermore, the technical aspects that might intrigue non-professionals are film and slides, as he noted that people around the world still use film but certainly not as much as a few decades ago.

"Here in Jordan, almost everyone uses digital cameras now so film is very foreign and unique to youth who did not grow up when there were film labs and darkrooms," Meyer said, stressing "one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done in this job is teach people about photography and the photo technology of a generation ago: what film is, how one brand is different from another, how cameras work etc." 

According to Meyer, digital photography is based on the same principles as chemical photography. “Everyone has seen old rolls of film at some point, but they rarely had anything to do with them," the expert said, adding that "it' s a joy for me when I’m able to 'connect the dots' and relate the old methods of photography to what happens when they click the shutter on their new digital camera".

"Working with this ACOR archive means a lot to me. First, I love photography and how it can be used for art, documentation and research. Also, many of the places in the photographs have changed or disappeared since the time they were shot," he explained, citing changes due to excavation, urban development, climate change and armed conflicts.

"I’m only a very small part, but what I do with this archive helps to ensure these places and people are not forgotten," Meyer concluded.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a January Criminal Court ruling sentencing a 38-year-old man to 20 years in jail after convicting him of fatally shooting his older sibling over a financial dispute in Madaba in January 2017.

The court declared the defendant guilty of shooting his 51-year-old brother following a dispute related to money while at his house on January 19 and handed him the maximum punishment. 

According to court documents, the defendant “was intoxicated and on drugs”on the day of the murder.

“He went to the victim’s house and asked him for JD20 but he refused to give him any money so he drew a gun and shot him twice,” the court stated.

The defendant fled the scene and was later arrested by the authorities. 

The defendant contested his ruling arguing that “he should benefit from a reduction in penalty since his mother dropped the charges against him”.

However, the higher court ruled that some of the victim’s family members refused to drop charges against the defendant and “therefore he cannot benefit from a reduction in the penalty”.

“All immediate family members should drop charges against the defendant in order to reduce the punishment against him. Therefore, the Criminal Court followed the proper procedures when sentencing the defendant deserves the verdict he received,” according to the Court of Cassation verdict.

The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zubi, Saeed Mugheis, Bassim Mubeidin and Majid Azab.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Monday decided to exclude some employees of the Jerusalem Awqaf Department from a previous prime minister communiqué that stipulated not covering employees' social security subscriptions if their pensions are due but they choose to extend their service.

Monday's decision applies to employees who are included in the Social Security Law and are still working and did not exceed the age of 55-60 for males and 50-55 for females on January 1, 2018, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The decision stipulates continuing the coverage of these employees in social security for the age of 65 for males and 60 for females to improve their pensions.

The Council of Ministers also decided to enact a legislation to dispense the end of service allowance for the department employees by one total monthly salary for each year of service. The Cabinet decided to grant employees in the department a special allowance of 300 per cent of the current basic salary.

AMMAN — The International Association of Gendarmeries and Police Forces' (FIEP) administrative board meeting kicked off on Monday at Jordan's General Directorate of the Gendarmerie, where the permanent FIEP representatives met to discuss issues of common interests to their respective departments, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Deputising for Gendarmerie Director General Maj. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh, the assistant director general of operations inaugurated the meeting, which covered several working papers of the member countries' representatives on international and regional security issues. 

He referred to Jordan's pivotal role in the region and the world under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, stressing the importance of the comprehensive international approach, for which King Abdullah has called to combat violence, terrorism, and cross-border crimes.

The participants discussed a number of administrative and organisational issues related to enhancing the capacities of member countries' security services and the exchange of expertise, which eventually contribute to the improvement of joint security work and fostering security and stability in the various member countries and the world.

FIEP is an association of national gendarmeries and affiliated corps, encompassing the European and Mediterranean gendarmeries and police forces with military status, according to its website. 

It is one of the "most important" international security organisations, which play an effective role in the promotion of international peace and security, according to Petra.

Gendarmerie Director General Maj. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh has assumed the presidency of the association in 2017, before handing it over to the Turkish gendarmerie for the current presidential term.