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AMMAN — Jordan is participating in the International Ministerial Conference titled: “Nuclear Energy in the Twenty-first Century”, in Abu Dhabi organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in cooperation with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, sponsored by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) and head of the Jordanian delegation Khaled Toukan affirmed that the Kingdom took pivotal steps to implement the National Energy Strategy, which was implemented in 2007 after in-depth studies to develop a reliable economic and sustainable energy mix in Jordan.

Toukan presented Jordan’s main achievements in the energy field  at the three-day conference, which witnessed  the participation of 600 experts and specialists from 70 countries and international organisations.

He elaborated on the Jordanian nuclear programme, the power plant project as well as the research and training along with the uranium exploration initiative. 

Toukan said that nuclear energy is one of the main alternatives to move from fossil fuels to low-carbon emission energy sources. He added that Jordan is opening the first International Centre for Synchrotron Light for Experimental Science and its Applications in the Middle East.

On the sidelines of the conference Toukan and the accompanying delegation met with a number of delegates from international companies and institutions. The conference ends on Wednesday. 

AMMAN — The Amman general prosecutor on Tuesday questioned Jordanian cartoonist Imad Hajjaj on charges of slandering religion and inciting sectarian strife in connection with an alleged cartoon he published that was deemed offensive to members of the Christian community.

Hajjaj was summoned on Monday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) shortly after reportedly publishing a cartoon on his Facebook page that depicted Jesus Christ on the cross saying “I am Christ the son of Mary declare my innocence (literal translation but it means disowns) from Patriarch Theophilos III and all of those who were involved with him in selling the noble Greek Orthodox Church to the Israeli occupation.”

A Christian citizen filed a complaint against Hajjaj and he was summoned by the CID for questioning and was referred to court the following day.

“Hajjaj pleaded not guilty to the charges when questioned about the cartoon by Prosecutor Raba Kilani,” Hajjaj’s Lawyer Mahmoud Quteishat said.

Quteishat added that Kilani is expected to hear more witnesses in the case and either “dismiss the case, keep the charges or add more”.

“We will wait and see what the prosecutor will decide about my client,” Kilani added.

Hajjaj, who has been a cartoonist for 25 years and is the president of the Jordan Cartoonist Association, remained free without bail after being questioned.

“I never intended to insult the Christian religion. On the contrary, I was defending Christians from the treason of the land sale by the Orthodox Church to the Israelis,” Hajjaj told The Jordan Times.

He added that “certain individuals used the drawing to provoke people and misrepresent what I meant.  Therefore, I immediately took down the cartoon and apologised for any misunderstanding that has been caused because of this,” Hajjaj added.

If convicted, Hajjaj could face imprisonment from one up too three years, according to his lawyer.

Jordan Press Association (JPA) President Rakan Saaydeh told The Jordan Times that the association is following up closely with Hajjaj.

“I have personally been with him since the beginning of the interrogation and in court, and we believe this cartoon was taken out of context,” Saaydeh said.

The JPA president added that “the association is convinced that Hajjaj’s cartoon is in no way insulting to the Christian religion. On the contrary, he was defending their property at the Orthodox Patriarchy in Jerusalem”.

“We will always fight for the freedom of expression as long as it does not affect others,” Saaydeh told The Jordan Times. 

AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat on Tuesday received Japanese Ambassador to Jordan Shuichi Sakurai and an accompanying delegation, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During their meeting, the both sides discussed cooperation in various fields between the armed forces of both countries.

Also on Tuesday, Freihat received German Ambassador to Jordan Birgitta Siefker-Eberle and an accompanying delegation, Petra reported. During their meeting, both sides discussed cooperation between the armed forces of both countries.

AMMAN — Higher Education Minister Adel Tweisi on Tuesday met with Singapore non-resident Ambassador in Amman Shamsher Zaman to discuss granting scholarships to Jordanian students to study at Singapore’s universities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The ambassador presented during the meeting five master’s scholarships in several fields in Singaporean universities with global reputation.

Tweisi said that in the upcoming weeks, the ministry will announce on its website the application dates to these scholarships. He also thanked the Singaporean government for offering scholarships to Jordanian students.  

Tweisi called for cooperation between Jordanian and Singaporean universities in the field of technical and vocational training, pointing out the government’s interest in developing this field.

AMMAN — Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh on Tuesday inaugurated their renewable energy project, which aims to provide about 40 per cent of the House’s electricity needs, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Tarawneh stressed the importance of continued reliance on alternative energy sources and expanding the project in the near future to reduce the electricity bill of the Lower House. The total cost of the system is around JD215,000, according to Petra. The project is built on a 2-dunum plot and was implemented in 150 days.

AMMAN — The National Centre for Human Rights’ (NCHR) President of the Board of Trustees Mohammad Bakhit on Tuesday presented the centre’s 2016 report to the President of the Jordan Judicial Council Mohammad Ghazo.

Bakhit and Ghazo reviewed the recommendations listed in the report, especially in regard to improving the judiciary system.

They also outlined achievements, in light of implementing the recommendations of the Royal Committee for the Development of Judiciary.

AMMAN — Building on the idea that journalists, bloggers and media professionals must have access to the best possible legal support in the event of legal action, UNESCO has been organising a series of training workshops for lawyers and media professionals under the banner of “Legal Support to Media in Jordan”, a statement  from the UN agency said. 

Launched in 2015 with the support of the government of Sweden, the project has been delivering practical trainings to 16 lawyers and media professionals focused on enhancing the legal awareness of media practitioners, and social media activists while also helping junior lawyers develop their professional legal skills in support of media related cases. 

A lawyer who has been practising for 25 years, Khalid Khlaifat, conducted the recent UNESCO awareness raising sessions. “Many journalists are violating their own rights. They do not feel empowered and are self-censoring before even publishing. I am here to help change that,” he was quoted in the statement as saying. 

Khlaifat, who said he is confident that the training will serve to liberate journalists, stated: “With their enhanced understanding of the national laws and international conventions related to media, they will begin to express themselves more openly.”

The training sessions focussed on issues of libel and slander while also touching on objectivity and integrity according to Jordanian law. Confidentiality of sources, respecting private lives and classified documents were also discussed, along with the importance of pre-publication and pre-broadcast legal counseling, the statement read. 

Hadeel Srour, a young journalist and social media specialist at Alordon-alyoom channel, has benefitted from the training. 

She said that, in journalism, “the lack of clarity surrounding our legal rights and obligations has made us feel reluctant to publish content freely,” noting that training has provided her with a “newfound awareness” surrounding legal recourse. 

“I will now be able to report with more confidence!” she said in the statement.

In parallel to the trainings, the UNESCO Legal Support to Media in Jordan project is developing a new “online legal support” feature for the website, which will provide journalists with an opportunity to submit their content for legal review, prior to publication or broadcast, according to the statement. 

The free service will be available 24/7 and media professionals will be able to view the CVs of the lawyers providing support and decide upon who is the most appropriate to reach out to, depending on the lawyer’s expertise and the nature of their content, the statement continued. 

Almudather Al Qudah, who has been practising law since 2012 as a statutory lawyer, recalled that during his studies no courses were offered on journalism-related law. 

“Most journalists in Jordan are made vulnerable by their legal ignorance and fall into legal traps with some of their content,” he said in the statement. 

Taking part in the UNESCO training has given him a first-hand look at the struggles journalists face and inspired him to lend his legal expertise to journalists accessing the new “online legal support” feature.

“Lawyers like myself will provide all of their personal contact information on UNESCO’s Legal Support to Media site so that journalists are able to reach out to us with legal queries or for vetting of their content 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I am thrilled to be part of this,” he said. 

The website will also act as an educational resource for journalists and lawyers alike. Useful links to background information on media-related laws will be accessible along with more than 100 media-related cases and their judgements from 2012 to present, according to the statement.

“Journalists work around the clock and do not have time for face-to-face consultations when working towards deadlines. This new feature will facilitate legal counsel for media professionals and also provide a host of legal information,” Srour said.  

The “online legal support” feature is expected to be active by the end of 2017. 

AMMAN — The Ministry of Education on Monday launched a project that connects its administrative and educational institutions across the Kingdom with Internet services and advanced solutions and technologies. 

Speaking at a presser, Education Minister Omar Razzaz said that the project will connect 2,764 schools and directorates with Internet and Intranet networks aiming to increase the quality of education.

The JD 9.5 million project, which is implemented by Umnia with the supervision of the Special Communications Commission (SCC), will build infrastructure in schools to raise the speed of the Internet from 2 Mbps to 15 Mbps, and to 50 Mbps in directorates, Razzaz said. 

“The project will enhance utilising technology in education, provide distinguished educational environment and enable schools and directories to communicate using e-conference [tools]” Razzaz added. 

The minister said that the initiative will facilitate the use of the ministry’s projects, such as the online courses developed in partnership with the EDRAAK platform, which includes four Tawjihi level courses in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and English.

EDRAAK is also scheduled to launch an online educational content for all levels, in cooperation with the ministry and with funding from Google by next year, EDRAAK’s CEO Sherin Yaaqoub said. 

During his presentation, Razzaz said that the availability of online educational content will decrease the financial burdens incurred by private courses, especially for those who are struggling financially. 

SCC director general, Brigadier-General Ali Asaaf said that the project has also provided schools and directorates with 1,2000 surveillance camera systems and biometric time punching system for employees. 

Umnia’s CEO Ziad Shatara expressed his pride for being a part of the largest e-networking project in Jordan that “merges low costs with high quality”.

Shatara noted that his company is providing free Internet to all schools and directorates as part of Umnia’s corporate social responsibility.

Assaf said that the free Internet provided by Umnia will annually save the ministry JD350,000. 

Other 780 schools are soon to be connected with Internet services, Shatara concluded.

AMMAN — Jordan’s ranking in the Doing Business 2018 report, to be published on Tuesday, is expected to improve due to the government’s efforts to boost the rating, according to Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury.

In a statement issued on Monday, Fakhoury said that the Kingdom’s ranking will positively change after efforts made in the past two years. Jordan is ranked 118 out of 189 countries in 2017 compared to 119 last year.

He added that the decline of a country like Jordan is “unacceptable”, noting that the ministry developed a detailed operational plan which includes indicators that enhanced the results in the year 2015-2016. 

The minister explained that these indicators are related to starting businesses, paying taxes, obtaining building permits, registering property, taking out loans, protecting minority investors, enforcing contracts and securing an electricity connection, which reflects on saving time and money, and initiates gradual improvement.

In this regard, he said that a number of specialised workshops were held for each sub-index of the Doing Business Report separately in cooperation with the World Bank/International Financial Group (IFC), where the mechanisms presented in the plan were reviewed and the procedures developed to benefit from the successful global expertise.

Fakhoury added that the Cabinet approved the necessary reforms and is currently following up on the decisions with the relevant authorities to provide the World Bank Group with the measures taken periodically.

The planning minister stressed that the ministry is following up on the procedures with various concerned bodies and providing the prime ministry with periodic reports on the progress of business in reforming the system in improving the index of doing business.

He added that coordination is under way with the World Bank to provide technical assistance to the relevant parties to complete the required reforms.

Fakhoury said that a key part of the implementation of these measures in the next phase will focus on the approval of the draft law on bankruptcy, and the draft law on the transfer of debt, in addition to the real estate law project, all transferred from the government to Parliament after the endorsement of the law of unification of national inspection in the session of the year 2017.

On the other hand, as part of the ongoing efforts to develop the business and investment environment, the Dovel partnership has been approved for funding the Jordanian Economic Legislation Review project, which is being implemented in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation for a period of three years.

AMMAN — As temperatures are lowering with the approach of winter, UNICEF has launched a call for funding to help support its winter assistance programme for vulnerable children across the region.

“This is a joint appeal to donors to help bridge the funding gap we are facing to implement our ‘winter response’,” Juliette Touma, communication officer at UNICEF Regional Office told The Jordan Times over the phone.

To date, UNICEF has received less than 20 per cent of the $73 million required to cover the winter needs of the most vulnerable children affected by the crisis in the region, according to a UNICEF statement.

While the organisation expects to provide winter clothing kits to over 800,000 children across the region, cash vouchers to over 320,000 vulnerable children and their families and thermal blankets for almost 240,000 children, the assistance is still below the level needed, the statement noted.

“We have just started our winter programme in Jordan, which is implemented through a dual approach: the winter cash programme for Syrian refugees living in camps and the distribution of winter clothes for all vulnerable groups across Jordan,” said Miraj Pradhan, communication officer at UNICEF Jordan, who noted that the clothes are provided through the 230 Makani centres that UNICEF partners with across all 12 governorates.

“Without help, the cold could be yet another harsh blow to vulnerable children in the region who have already been through so much,” said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF regional director for the MENA region, adding that “children’s health is weak from undernutrition, poor healthcare and displacement. Hypothermia and respiratory infections are a serious threat – if left untreated, children will die”.

As UNICEF races to deliver the necessary items to vulnerable population before the cold sets in, the organisation is still facing a $60 million gap that could leave up to 1.5 million children exposed to the cold, most of whom are refugees or internally displaced.

Refugees tend to hit the hardest by the cold season, since they are living in substandard or inadequate shelters, which are poorly insulated and expensive to heat. Low temperatures, storms and heavy snowfall are therefore expected to compound the many hardships they are already facing, the statement said.

Stressing the overall impact of winter on various aspects of their daily lives, Touma said: “Children’s education and health are directly affected when kids are not well equipped against the winter. School dropouts tend to increase and cases of spreadable diseases rise.” 

To counter that, UNICEF set up child-friendly spaces and school heating for 105,000 children across the region.

“We try to provide these families with all the items before the winter starts, so they can be ready when temperatures start plummeting,” Touma explained, citing the importance of providing fuel for heating purposes in addition to the clothing items.

Working in collaboration with UNICEF and UNHCR, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has started distributing cash assistance to the families of vulnerable children living in the refugee camps, in order to enable these households to meet their most basic needs in a flexible and dignified way, according to NRC Jordan’s shelter specialist Elias Jourdi.

The winter packages, which are categorised into different child age groups, are delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, UNHCR, ACTED, Islamic Centre Charity Society Jordan, INTERSOS, NRC, Save the Children Jordan and World Vision.