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AMMAN — Around 40 Jordanians took to the streets in their Vespas on Friday to raise awareness of breast cancer. Ashraf Al Fakhouri, the deputy director general of Darwza Motors, Jordan’s distributor of Vespa, said that October is designated worldwide as breast cancer awareness month.  

“We organised this campaign in cooperation with the Jordanian Vespa club. We decided to hold an event to raise awareness for breast cancer in line with Al Hussein Cancer Centre’s campaign ‘Promise us to test,’” he told The Jordan Times at the gathering in Jabal Luweibdeh. 

He said that the charity ride started from Rainbow Street, and went  through the Boulevard, finally reaching Abdoun.

Fakhouri also that the donations collected by the Vespa riders will be sent to the centre. 

Participant Ayman Taqatqasaid that he took part in the campaign to support women, describing the issue as “too important to ignore”.

AMMAN — Education Minister Omar Razzaz on Friday announced plans to build 600 new schools over the next 10 years.

In an interview with Jordan TV’s 60 Minutes, Razzaz noted the government’s plan to increase capital expenditure to the ministry, however, he said, this extra money is not enough to implement the project, expecting the participation of international parties, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He added that there is a plan to develop a partnership with the private sector to build more schools, attributing the system’s current overcrowding problem  to the decline in economic conditions and the influx of Syrian refugees.

The minister also explained the reasons behind the new General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Tawjihi) regulations, which came within a comprehensive reform process.

He said that amendments will not affect the number of students admitted to universities in the current phase, noting that other criteria will be added later.

He also highlighted the ministry’s efforts to improve the education sector, stressing the importance of keeping pace with technological advancement, and boosting the loyalty of students to learning.

Regarding the role of teachers, Razzaz focused on the importance of training and further developing their abilities, highlighting the Queen Rania Teacher Academy’s diploma programme as an example. 

The minister also denounced attacks on teachers, stressing that the ministry has not dropped any case against perpetrators in the past year, and that it will seek from  relevant institutions to increase  the penalties on those responsible.

Razzaz  also discussed the ministry’s upcoming programmes and projects, the most important being the code of conduct and interconnectivity of schools, which according to Razzaz, is a “white revolution in education”.

WADI MUSA — Representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan gathered on Thursday in Wadi Musa with  members of the government, host communities and local media, in order to discuss the comprehensive work that is being implemented in the south of Jordan for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Mohammed Al Nawafla, president of the Petra Development and Tourism Programme (PDTRA), congratulated the UNDP on its achievements in the Kingdom, speaking on PDTRA’s joint programmes with the UN agency. 

“UNDP has been a strong partner for us when it came to help the locals, they have collaborated with us extremely with many workshops, and we are thankful for their support on the signage of Petra and the surrounding areas,” said Al Nawafla.

UNDP’s Country Director Sara Ferrer stressed that the agency is “the main convener for sustainable human development and resilence within the UN family”, noting that the key points of the work of the UNDP in Jordan are “inclusive participation and social cohesion, resilent communities, livelihood and environment, and the enablement of an institutional framework for the realisation of the SDGs”.

Furthermore, Ferrer highlighted that UNDP’s role as a convener for development enables them to work at different levels to bring institutions, communities, private sector and academia together, stressing that the focus is on “ensuring national ownership and sustainability, investing in nurturing capacities, and strengthening institutions and community based organisations [CBOs]”. 

Project managers of several initiatives were present at the meeting, briefing others on the objectives and results of each programme while discussing ideas for the future. 

Nidal Oran, project director of the “Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation in Tourism Sector Development in Jordan” initiative, explained that the programme’s objective is to reduce the negative impact of tourism activities on Jordan’s biodiversity, stressing that “Petra is an important site both at local and international level and it must be sustained ensuring the preservation of cultural, archaeological and natural resources.”

BITS project represents the second intervention of the UNDP in PDTRA, with the first intervention being through the project “enhancing institutional capacities to reduce disaster risk and to integrate climate in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”. 

“The inclusion of Petra in the National Network of Natural Reserves list in Jordan is a key step in the preservation of the natural and archaeological heritage within the protected area,” said Oran, noting the importance of creating an eco-tourism programme and empowering the local community through employment. 

 Ghimar Deeb, project director of the Community Cohesion Grant Mechanism, was also present in the dialogue, briefing members on the project’s goal and outcomes. 

“The Arab Spring and the Syrian crisis have resulted in a dismembering of the community’s cohesion and resilience, and the role of CBOs and no- governmental organisations is crucial on strengthening social cohesion,” said Deeb, explaining that the project’s goal is to support local institutions and governmental interference in providing basic services and maintaining social cohesion. 

An example of this initiative is the “Green Schools” project led by  Al Wadi Ladies for Social Development Association, which integrates students with special needs with other students with the aim of eliminating the idea of dissimilarity. 

“Our purpose is to capacitate CBOs in tension areas at the community level and to train society leaders to be responsible and accountable on monitoring the impact of these partnerships grants,” explained Deeb. 

Majed Hasanat, Project Director of the “Livelihood and employment” programme, spoke about the achievements since the establishment of the initiative.

“The project started out with the support of two women working from their homes in the production of simple textile products, but after receiving UNDP’s fund, the number of employees increased to eight, and they were able to take a soft and technical skills training to provide linens and other products requested by the local market,” said Hasanat. 

 “The main objective of this project was to develop the economical level of the targeted CBO and to increase the income of the women who work there, creating an investing opportunity and creating more jobs,” said Hasanat. 

UNDP’s visit to Wadi Musa concluded with a field visit to several CBOs funded and supported by the UN agency, as well as the proposed  protected area in Petra according to the BITS project. 

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock discussed current cooperation between the Kingdom and the UN in dealing with repercussions of the Syrian refugee crisis in Amman on Saturday.

Safadi and Lowcock expressed their pride in the "high level" of coordination between Jordan and the international organisation, and expressed keenness to strengthen ties, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The UN official praised the Kingdom's efforts in helping refugees. 

AMMAN — A three-day international conference titled “Dealing with Refugees, Challenges and Opportunities” has recently concluded in Amman, with the participation of 120 specialists from 19 countries in the Euro-Mediterranean region, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Saturday.

Participants in the event, organised by the Higher Population Council, in partnership with Erasmus/EU with the support of the Salto EuroMed Foundation, highlighted the importance of benefiting from Jordan's "successful" experience in hosting refugees despite scarce resources and mounting pressure on infrastructure.

They also called for exchanging information and expertise and building partnerships between local and European civil community institutions to develop the level of services presented to refugees. Participants stressed the importance of sustaining communication among humanitarian agencies through holding periodic meetings and establishing effective communication.

AMMAN — Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) ended its third quarter with 6,202,370 passengers having passed through its halls during the first nine months of 2017, registering an increase of 6 per cent year-to-date in passenger traffic as opposed to the same period in 2016, according to official figures released by Airport International Group (AIG).

Current aircraft movements (ACM) witnessed an increase of 1.7 per cent, standing at 57,909 while the amount of cargo handled increased by 6.9 per cent, totaling to 80,483 tonnes, compared to last year, the AIG said in a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times on Saturday.

For the month of September, passenger traffic marked a 1.4 per cent increase, amounting to 785,454 passengers. Meanwhile, ACM figures witnessed a 2 per cent increase and cargo saw a 33.1 per cent rise, in comparison to September 2016, coming in at 7,066 ACM and 9,430 tonnes respectively.

AMMAN — “Volunteers are like the bank for change in Jordan. Their will to make a difference in the community has more power than money,” said Bara’ah Batainah, a 24-year-old volunteer with the UN Volunteers (UNV) Jordan.

The remark came as UNV Jordan on Friday launched the Jordan Volunteer Awards (JVA) 2017, in cooperation with the Jordan Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), All Jordan Youth Commission, INJAZ and Int@j. 

Established to honour the efforts and achievements of Jordanian volunteers, who set a model for positive change, the prizes will be awarded to six best volunteering initiatives on December 5. 

“We chose December 5th, which is International Volunteer Day, to start an annual tradition here in Jordan that celebrates volunteerism,” said Tomas Kvedaras, head of the UN volunteering programmes in Jordan, noting that the competition will also help in spreading the word about the importance of volunteering.

“Volunteering is a cornerstone for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and we need all parties to be involved to achieve it, especially the civil society,” Kvedaras told The Jordan Times in a phone interview.

Asked to submit a two-minute video presenting their initiative, all Jordanian volunteers are encouraged to enter the competition,which was created with the aim of “highlighting volunteer contributions to peace and development in Jordan”, according to the organisers.

“Volunteering is very important because it allows you to give, to your social or local community, something that comes deeply from the heart,” said Batainah, stressing that “anyone who has the belief that he or she can make a change should just start and contribute with his time and ability.”

Nominations include best volunteer initiative at both large and small scales; best university volunteer initiative; best international volunteer assignment; best volunteer initiative in entrepreneurship; best volunteer initiative in the field of technology and innovation and best online volunteer.

“In Jordan, volunteering initiatives are essential because they help communities who live in remote areas and in other governorates outside of Amman,” Batainah stressed. 

Participants have until November 15 to submit their video, which should include the name of the initiative, the size of the team, the duration of the initiative, its field of intervention, the activities conducted and the results produced so far. 

“The first voting phase will be conducted on Facebook, with the public being able to vote for their favourite initiative, while the final vote will be held by participants during the JVA ceremony in December,” Kvedaras explained.

“The video can include short interviews, shots from volunteers in action, infographics, etc. The more interesting, dynamic and engaging the video is, the more chances it has to be noticed by people and receive more votes,” he continued.

The UNV programme, which is active in 130 countries worldwide, under the administration of the UN Development Programme, seeks to contribute towards peace and development through volunteerism. 

AMMAN — Police personnel at Zarqa Public Hospital on Saturday arrested a man, in his 30s for allegedly attacking a nurse and destroying hospital equipment earlier in the day.

Hospital police officers handed over the man to a police station, prior to referring him to the attorney general, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Hospital Director Mahmoud Zreiqat said that the suspect, the husband of a patient admitted to the gynaecology department, allegedly destroyed equipment worth JD1,500 and reportedly smoked inside the facility. Zreiqat told Petra that the nurse is currently receiving treatment at the hospital and is in a fair condition. 

AMMAN — Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani on Thursday said that the NEOM project, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman within the 2030 Saudi vision, will contribute to increasing economic growth rates and enhancing investment in the region.

A 26,000-square-kilometre project to be implemented on the shores of the Red Sea, NEOM extends over Jordanian and Egyptian lands, in addition to Saudi Arabia, at a cost of $500 billion.

In an interview on Jordan Television’s morning show “News and Dialogue”, Momani, stressed that Jordan places great importance in investment, adding that there is high level of coordination with Saudi Arabia regarding the scheme.

Being held in three countries, the project is envisioned to improve economic conditions in the area and positively reflect on its development rates, added Momani, who is also the government spokesperson. 

Meanwhile, Chief Commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Nasser Shraideh has said in a statement that the town of Aqaba “will be part of the global project NEOM, which will attract international economic activity to the region”.

He added in a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times Thursday that the project is a declaration of confidence in Jordan's security and stability and “acknowledgement of the scale of achievements in Aqaba”.

The ASEZA chief pointed out that as soon as the project is launched, it will stimulate economic activity in Aqaba in particular, and in Jordan in general, adding that more meetings and consultations will take place between the Jordanian and Saudi sides, to develop detailed programmes and timetables.

Commenting on the creation of a new capital, the minister said that Prime Minister Hani Mulki had talked clearly about having initial studies and blueprints to establish a new capital, which will not be connected with Amman and will be out of its current borders.

He added that public departments would be transferred to the new capital, which will be constructed in partnership with the private sector, especially that the Treasury cannot fund the building costs under current economic challenges.

As for terrorists who fled war zones in neighbouring countries, Momani stressed that Jordan will not tolerate any aggression on its security, and that “death is the inevitable destiny for whoever tries to approach our borders”.

In this regard, he stressed that concerned agencies will deal with terrorists using the proper military and security means that best defend the country’s interests and security and the safety of its people.

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN’s special envoy for Yemen, on Thursday discussed the latest efforts to end the Yemeni crisis.

During the meeting, the UN envoy briefed Safadi on the latest developments and contacts he made with regional and international parties, as well as his plans to activate the political process and resolve the conflict, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Safadi stressed the Kingdom's support for all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to end the war and the suffering of the Yemeni people and restore security and stability in the country, in line with the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Initiative, outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference and relevant UN Security Council decisions, especially Resolution 2216.

Jordan hosts the headquarters of the office of the UN mission for Yemen, according to an agreement signed between the government and the international organisation.