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AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat on Monday received a British military delegation headed by Defence Senior Adviser to the Middle East Lt. Gen. John Lorimer.

Freihat and Lorimer discussed the latest regional and global developments, ways of cooperation and coordination in several issues that serve the interest of both countries’ armed forces. 

AMMAN — A total of 60 divorce cases recorded in the Kingdom a day, The Sisterhood Is Global Institute (SIGI) said in a statement on Monday.

223 marriage contracts are signed in the country on daily basis, of which 30 for under-18-year old marriages, the institute said.

According to SIGI, 21 per cent of male and 51 per cent of female divorcees were under the age of 25 in 2016.

The institute added that 402 out 10, 907 early marriages ended in divorce in 2016. SIGI called for wording a provision in the Personal Status Law that determines the minimum duration of engagement before marriage for Muslims and Christians, and sets a minimum age for engagement or marriage.  

AMMAN — The Higher Council for Affairs of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) Board of Trustees on Monday appointed the Government Coordinator for Human Rights Basel Tarawneh, as deputy president of the board for four years in accordance with the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for 2017 in a meeting chaired by HCD President HH Prince Mired, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

AMMAN — Jordanian social media users on Sunday launched a hashtag campaign dubbed “No justification for robberies”, in response to reported public sympathy towards the recent criminal acts.

The hashtag, which was one of the top three tweets locally, was launched after several people voiced their sympathy towards suspects recently caught by police after robbing banks and businesses, in most occasions using armed weapons.

“There is no justification for armed robbery and anyone who commits robbery should just go to jail,” Anwar Aaka tweeted.

“Whoever robs a financial institute or an entity will most probably rob your house… there is no justification whatsoever for robberies,” Ali Shouham wrote on his Twitter account.

For Rawan Khalidi, “armed robberies are on the rise because there are no stiff penalties for these perpetrators. I really hope that they introduce harsh penalties to deter such crimes”.

However, several people took advantage of the hashtag to criticise officials, calling for punishment of what they described as “corrupt officials”.

“It is nice to see people who are stealing get punished… but what about some of the officials who [steal] but are not being questioned or punished?” Asma A. tweeted.

Hassan Obeido added in a tweet: “What about individuals who rob the country? Or is it not considered robbery? You only go after the poor.”

In late June, following a string of armed robberies that targeted local banks, pharmacies, shops, gas stations and other businesses, the Public Security Department (PSD) issued several statements warning whom they called “social media armed-robbers sympathisers” to stop publishing posts on social media.

“What armed bank robbers are doing is dangerous to our community and people should stop expressing sympathy for these robbers,” the police statement said, adding that individuals who use social media for that purpose will be prosecuted

“We urge the public and the media to help us do our job in finding the robber by refraining from publishing inaccurate information about the incident. We will inform the public about any developments in due course,” the PSD statement said.

AMMAN — Interior Minister Ghaleb Zu’bi on Sunday met with UNHCR Chief Commissioner Filippo Grandi and his accompanying delegation with whom he discussed ways to support Jordan to face the burdens of hosting large numbers of refugees, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

Zu'bi expressed appreciation for the UNHCR humanitarian role and its continued support for countries that host refugees, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

"Jordan has always been a safe haven for people seeking security and peace. Jordan opened its doors to a huge influx of refugees despite all the economic, social, and security challenges," Zu'bi stated, stressing the importance of increasing international support to cover the "actual costs" of hosting refugees, especially in light of the challenging economic situation.

"Jordan's role in hosting and providing services to refugees depends on the support it receives to deal with the economic, political and security repercussions ensuing from the crisis," he noted.

For his part, Grandi said that his three-day visit to the Kingdom aims to shed light on Jordan's role in hosting thousands of hundreds of refugees, provide additional support to the Kingdom in order to continue its humanitarian role, and mitigate the pressures on its various sectors.

"The Syrian crisis has been a turning point with regard to large numbers of refugees, which adds more burdens on a country with limited resources like Jordan," he added. 

JERASH — The Jerash Greater Municipality is scheduled to initiate several development projects worth JD13 million to link Jerash's old and new neighbourhoods in June, an official has said.

The projects aim to extend tourists' stay at the city, Jerash Mayor Ali Gogazeh told The Jordan Times on Saturday.

The projects will be funded by the municipality's fund and the French Development Agency, who agreed on the principles but are still discussing the amount of the contribution, according to the mayor.

Gogazeh said that the projects would improve the city's economic and tourism revenues and create "thousands" of job opportunities.

The projects include establishing a hotel with a cost of JD2 million, a multistorey parking lot worth JD1.8 million, revamping the old part of the city centre, "the Ottoman neighbourhood", which would cost JD1.6 million, and cleaning the facades of some buildings amounting to JD500,000, according to the mayor.

He said that, in cooperation with the local community, the old houses of the Ottoman neighbourhood would be used as lodges to accommodate tourists.

The projects will also include revamping the riverbed of Wadi Jerash, "the river of gold", which separates the city's ancient and modern parts, with the provision of safe crossings in addition to the existing and in-use Roman Bridge, he added.

The plan requires paving the main road of the city centre and finding alternative roads for vehicles, Gogazeh said.

Yousef Zreiqat, a tourism expert, said that Jerash is the second largest archaeological site after Petra, hence it receives the second largest number of visitors.

However, tourists do not stay overnight at Jerash for several reasons, foremost of which is the short time they are given in their trips itineraries. The visit is usually part of multisites day visit, Zreiqat said.

"Tourists stay two to three hours in Jerash, which does not allow exploring other attractions and activities in the city," the expert added. 

Zreiqat, who is also a member of Jerash Governorate Council, said another reason is the absence of hotels. 

He urged for creating activities, other than visiting the ancient Roman site, to guarantee extending the duration of the tourists' stay.

Authorities should consider raising the awareness of the local community towards tourism to ensure positive interaction and providing suitable atmospheres and services.

Zreiqat said that there should be also a trail that includes additional attractions and activities, during which tourists would see additional monuments from various eras, enjoy local meals, and visit local families and other activities.

According to archaeologists, the modern city of Jerash lies on top of the eastern side of the ancient Roman city, which means that the archaeological park usually visited by tourists is only the western part. 

The eastern side, however, offers some surviving ancient monuments, such as the Great Eastern Bath, the Roman entertainment compound (Al Berektein), Saint Procopius Church (Byzantine era), and the Ottoman neighbourhood.

In addition to the ancient attractions at the eastern side, visitors can enjoy wandering the city marketplaces, restaurants, cafés, spice shops and many others, Zreiqat said.

AMMAN — Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh on Sunday issued new instructions under which journalists are no longer allowed to cover sessions from under the Dome.

Media coverage of the sessions will only be from the reporters’ room up in the gallery under the new instructions announced on Sunday.

As per the new instructions, decided by the House’s executive office in a meeting on February 7, photo journalists can stay up to five minutes under the Dome when a session begins to take photos. 

Reporters’ presence under the Dome, in the corridors and in meeting rooms is now prohibited under the new instructions.

The new instructions say that reporters will be allowed to do their job according to the Jordan Press Association (JPA) Law.

Also as per the new instructions, a soundproof glass wall is to be installed around the public gallery overlooking the debating chamber. 

“If such measures are meant to restrict journalists’ movement and, consequently, their coverage of the sessions, then they [MPs] will have a strong response from us,” Khaled Quda, JPA board member, said.

“Regulating the reporters’ work is fine but restricting and obstructing them is totally rejected.”

Qudah told The Jordan Times that the photos, which caused embarrassment to some MPs and officials during previous sessions, had been taken by with their long zoom cameras from the gallery. 

“But if the new regulations mean restricting photo journalists’ movement in the gallery, like confining them to one corner or seats, we will then respond strictly to that.”  

Some photos have been published in news websites and then circulated on social media networks showing the prime minister or a minister reading a short letter from an MP conveying a private request or assurances of support.

Last week, the House did not allow photojournalist Fares Khaleifah, from Sawaleif.com, to enter the Chamber to cover a session.

While it was said that the photos of the short letters exchanged between ministers and deputies during sessions that Khaleifah took was the reason behind denying him an access to the sessions, the House permanent office said it was because the photojournalist is not a JPA member. 

“But this intended soundproof glass wall is going to be a big problem,” Qudah, a human rights expert, said, adding, “It is a matter that lies at the heart of public freedoms and citizens’ constitutional rights.”

He explained that the House is a public place that, under the law, shall be open to everyone unless it is a closed-door meeting.

“If the wall is really installed in the gallery, it will be a step backwards in the democratisation process. But let’s wait and see anyway.” 

AMMAN — The training and employment directorate in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) has provided 1,600 jobs in the private sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Sunday.

This comes with the implementation of the authority’s strategy to empower the local community, which seeks to benefit from the employment opportunities in ASEZA as a result of growing investment and diversity.

ASEZA Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh stressed that the development of the directorate aims primarily to employ Jordanians in the private hospitality, industrial and service sectors, to reduce poverty and unemployment.

AMMAN — The Mafraq Agriculture Directorate on Sunday initiated a campaign to verify cattle possession in order to deliver support to beneficiaries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The measure came in accordance with the Agriculture Ministry’s efforts to address illegal trade of subsidised fodder by fake cattle possessors. The campaign will be implemented through unannounced visits by specialised committees.

The number of registered cattle owners in Mafraq is 3,733 who raise 946,000 sheep, 246,000 goats, 14,000 cows and 2,450 camels.

AMMAN — HH Prince Mired, president of the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities, chaired a meeting on Sunday to discuss issues related to building accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Attendees discussed the national plan that aims at rectifying the status of buildings, facilities, places of worship and tourist sites that were established before the 2017 Law of People with Disabilities and the building code project went into effect, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The meeting focused on requirements that have to be applied to ensure accessibility of the disabled and the implementation of smart solutions. Prince Mired highlighted the importance of applying the requirements mentioned in the building code through preparing engineering blueprints that are accredited only after meeting the code.