Local

AMMAN — The Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) has foiled three alleged attempts to smuggle narcotics, a Public Security Department statement said on Sunday.

The first attempt was in Zarqa, where the AND followed a tip-off indicating that some individuals were allegedly planning to smuggle narcotics in a mail package.

AND personnel have found that the package contained 5,000 narcotic pills hidden inside balloons that were stuffed inside pickled eggplants. Two suspects were arrested and the search for the third accomplice is ongoing.

AND personnel also arrested a suspect for allegedly attempting to smuggle 22,000 narcotic pills through a southern border crossing, hidden inside the engine of a vehicle. In Aqaba, AND personnel have also arrested a suspect who tried to enter the Kingdom carrying 650gm of cocaine.

Three other suspects who were involved in the smuggling attempt were arrested, according to the statement.

AMMAN — Dozens of participants “from all spectrums of democracy stakeholders” gathered on Saturday to participate in the “Score for Democracy” event organised by the European Union (EU), which took place in Amman Football Club.

Players were divided into six teams: the EU team, the Independent Election Commission team, the Media team, the Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs (MPPA) team, the Civil Society Organisations team, the House of Representatives team, in addition to members of the Jordan’s women national team.

In his opening remarks, Firas Adwan, Secretary General of MPPA, extended his gratitude to the EU delegation in Jordan for organising the event, which aims at “supporting democracy in Jordan” on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy, which was marked on Friday.

Deputising for the Minister of MPPA, Musa Maaytah, Ali Khawaldeh said: “Football is a global sport that we all share. Football and democracy share the same values as they both encourage us to accept the other and to accept defeat and victory equally.”

“I believe sport is an important tool to encourage democratic values such as tolerance, equity and justice,” Khawaldeh stated.

Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation, Ibrahim Laafia thanked all participants for celebrating the International Day of Democracy and highlighted the importance of including all democracy stakeholders in the event.

Disregarding the hot weather, players took to the field in a friendly atmosphere, demonstrating great team work and sportsmanship between winners and losers.

The event came as part of the delegation’s celebration of their recently launched programme “Enhanced Support to Democratic Governance in Jordan” achievements on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy, marked annually on September 15.

Launched with the aim of “supporting Jordan’s reform process towards consolidation of deep democracy and to promote inclusiveness of policy and decision-making process”, the 17.7 million-euro programme is funded by the EU and the government of Spain, and implemented by a consortium led by the European Centre for Electoral Support, according to an EU statement.

AMMAN — Germany’s Energy Transition (Energiewende) exhibition was inaugurated on Saturday, as part of the opening ceremony of the German Week, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Sumaya.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Al Kharabsheh and German Ambassador Birgitta Siefker-Eberle attended the ceremony, along with Jordanian and German officials. 

Commending the strong “bond of friendship and cooperation” between the two countries, Kharabsheh thanked Germany for its support to the Kingdom’s efforts in shifting from conventional to renewable energy.

For her part, the German ambassador said: “This exhibition is a very ambitious and long-term project with the aim to become more independent of oil and gas imports, and completely phase out of nuclear energy by 2022.”

“Jordan belongs to the avant-garde in the Arab world when it comes to the use of techniques for the production of renewable energy as the country offers important natural preconditions for their application [space and sun],” she noted 

Stressing the importance of energy transition worldwide, she noted that a number of questions and misunderstandings still remain, highlighting the importance of the travelling exhibition in spreading awareness and knowledge about the issue. 

Scheduled to run until September 28, the exhibition was devised by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and is held in cooperation with the Jordan Museum.

“The ‘Energiewende’ is our answer to the question of how we can make the energy supply secure, affordable and sustainable,” an embassy statement said, adding that “Germany decided to switch the entire energy supply from fossil fuels to renewables to become increasingly energy efficient and become a leader in the field of climate protection.”

Outlining the development of the “Energiewende” since the 1970s, the exhibition covers various aspects of the energy transition since the German government implemented its first environmental programme in 1971. 

Divided into various thematic stations, it covers topics such as energy efficiency, heating, mobility, renewable energies, costs for consumer, climate protection and other fields. 

“This exhibition is very interactive: it has a multimedia quiz table, a feedback station and many other activities. It aims to engage people to participate and get involved rather than just read posters on the walls,” head of the cultural and press department at the embassy Jaime Sperberg told The Jordan Times.

Inaugurated in April 2016 in Beijing, the exhibition has since been shown in about 30 locations in 14 different countries.

On the sidelines of the exhibition opening, a marketplace exposed the works and projects of various German institutions, including the German Jordanian University, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology of the Holy Land, the Gerda Henkel and the Goethe-Institut, among others. 

“This marketplace is a great chance to learn more about the German culture and discover other sides of the country,” Njood, a Jordanian married to a German national said at the event.

Revolving around the theme of “energy”, these organisations are all part of “a process that will open up new business opportunities, foster innovation, create jobs, boost growth and make all of us less dependent on oil and gas imports”, an embassy statement said. 

Jordan recently announced that its renewable energy production will be increased five-fold by 2020, through the implementations of various solar and wind energy projects. 

The German Week 2017 will run through September 21, featuring a variety of events and exhibitions promoting the German culture the embassy statement said.

AMMAN — Environment Minister Yaseen Khayyat on Saturday said that the ministry has constructed 79 sand and two ordinary dams to collect of 6.4 million cubic metres (mcm) of rain water annually, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Khayyat stressed that the dams were built as breeders have been suffering from water scarcity for their cattle, which forces them to travel long distances, therefore increasing cost and efforts.

In a press statement carried by Petra, Khayyat said that the ministry has established an environment compensation programme with the support of the UN to rehabilitate the ecosystems and pastures in the Jordanian badia (semi-desert area).

He noted that the ministry has drafted a plan that includes creating sand dams in the Northern, Central and Southern Badias to harvest rain water and provide water for cattle, enhance underground water, mitigate desertification effects, and irrigate pastoral bushes.

He added that the ministry has implemented the programme in cooperation with the Water Ministry, represented by the Jordan Valley Authority through four agreements.

In the Northern Badia, the ministry has built 26 sand dams and one large dam with a storage capacity of 2.6 mcm.

The ministry has constructed 13 sand dams in the Central Badia with a capacity of 700, 000 mcm and 40 sand dams and a large dam to store 3.1 mcm in the Southern Badia.

Work is currently under way to construct five sand dams to stock up 400,000 cm, according to the minister. 

AMMAN — Local art gallery Dar Al Anda on Thursday evening resonated with the rhythms of hip-hop music, combined with the laughter of the local community. 

For six months, some 120 Jordanian, Syrian, Iraqi and Palestinian youth from underprivileged areas of Jordan have worked to bring “Rhythms & Peace”, an evening of music and film, to the local audience.

The six-month social cohesion project was conducted by the Danish NGOs Turning Tables (TT) and ActionAid, in four community centres in Zarqa, Ruseifa, Mafraq and Madaba, TT Director Martin Fernando Jakobsen told The Jordan Times.

Throughout the project, the young men and women have recorded 10 tarab and hip hop songs, seven music videos and five short documentaries in TT’s mobile container studio.They have also produced two sketches building upon their shared experiences.

“Although most of the participants already made music before the project, they did not have the experience or material to do so in a professional manner,” Majd Nammari, TT Jordan director told The Jordan Times.

By engaging youth from Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Iraq living together in the Kingdom, the project has helped strengthen social cohesion and youth communication through a positive dialogue on their problems, hopes and dreams, he added, noting that “everyone was working in a collaborative manner, towards the same goal”.

The concluding showcase as planned as a “celebration of how youth from all over the country representing different nationalities and religions have come together in creative dialogue about the future of their communities,” a statement by TT said.

Starting off with the screening of snippets and music videos from the project, the evening went on with a concert by 15 of the beneficiaries.

“We really hope this event can show people how creative means can be effective in mobilising and engaging youth in dialogue on co-existence and social inclusion,” Nammari said.

Through its music and film production mobile facilities called“Turntable Labs”, TT has been striving to give voice to marginalised refugee and IDP youth in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, by allowing them to express themselves through creative means.

“We try to give them the tools to strengthen their self-esteem and show them that, with a bit of training, they can perform amazing gigs,” the director said. 

“All the productions made during the project are available on social media,” Nammari said, noting that “it helps these youth gain confidence and professional experience”.

While only a few number of the beneficiaries was able to attend the Amman concert, due to the excentred location of their centres, the excitation and satisfaction was palpable among them.

“They were really proud and excited, and they already asked us when their next concert could be happening,” Nammari concluded.

AMMAN — The Royal Automobile Club of Jordan (RACJ) on Saturday announced its participation in the global “Park Your Phone” campaign that seeks to promote awareness among drivers, pedestrians and cyclist on the dangers of phone use while driving, cycling and walking, a RACJ statement said.

Drivers are four times more likely to crash while on the phone, and accidents due to road user distraction on mobile phones are on the rise. For drivers, pedestrians and cyclists only a few seconds of distraction can mean the difference between life and death, the statement said. 

The RACJ is joining forces with the Automobile Clubs around the world to encourage responsible mobile phone use in traffic under a campaign organised by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

The #ParkYourPhone campaign was officially launched in Brussels DATE and will be rolled out across Europe, the Middle East and Africa throughout the autumn of 2017, the statement added.

For MEP Koch, “mobile phones are increasingly cited as contributing factors in road accidents. Citizens need to be reminded to park their phones while in traffic. There is too much to lose in that moment of distraction. All road users should use their phones responsibly”.

The 10-day campaign will address the issue in the Jordanian context with several activities including lectures, social media activities and awareness raising messages to mobile users, the statement said.

For her part, FIA Regional Director General Laurianne Krid said: “We know that mobile phones are distracting, not only for drivers, but for pedestrians and cyclists too.  #ParkYourPhone is our message to road users that, when they are in traffic, they must remain focused on the road.”

Huda Qasim, general manager of RACJ, said: “Using mobile phones while driving, cycling or walking on roads is distracting and leading to accidents. We all must join forces as mobile users to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities.” 

AMMAN — Forty-two patients, from various parts of the Kingdom, have underwent free surgeries and check-ups on previous surgeries in several private hospitals in Amman, in cooperation with the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development’s (JOHUD) Goodwill Campaign, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Saturday. 

The campaign’s medical programme is the only organisation that presents such “advanced” medical services to underprivileged patients, building on the humanitarian and noble goals of the campaign.

HRH Princess Basma, president of the Goodwill Campaign’s higher committee, visited a number of patients still at hospitals and listened to briefings on their health condition from the doctors who supervised the surgeries, which were all successful.

Princess Basma stressed the campaign’s keenness to continue presenting the best services to patients, expressing her pride in fruitful partnerships with private medical institutions, in a way that highlights the social responsibility of these organisations towards citizens,Petra added. 

Fayez Abu Hmeidan, director of the Gardens Hospital, Yousef Goussous, deputy chairman of the board of directors of Amman Surgical Hospital and Omar Shami, chairman of Shami Eye Centre, highlighted the importance of their partnerships with the campaign in instilling the culture of social solidarity and charity to help underprivileged people.

The princess also attended a ceremony to sign the memoranda of understanding between the campaign, Gardens Hospital and Shami Eye Centre, which aim at enhancing cooperation in presenting medical and treatment services to the campaign’s patients.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has implemented an intensive labour programme involving green projects and forestation,. 

In a report carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Agriculture Minister Khaled Hneifat said that the project will plant trees in around 200 acres in Ajloun, Karak, Tafileh, Balqa and Jerash governorates, with the aim of employing local labour and increasing green space.

Funded by the ILO with around $1 million. the project also seeks to cultivate suitable trees for each location

According to Nimer Haddadin, the ministry’s spokesperson, about 100 job opportunities will be created in each cycle, and each phase will last for almost three months, stressing that the project is temporary.

“We believe that it is a good thing for the unemployed to have a salary for three months. No matter how much the salary is, it is still an income, which is good,” Haddadin added.

When asked about women’s role in the project, Haddadin said that 10 per cent of the job opportunities is allocated for women. In addition, he said that 3 per cent of job opportunities are reserved for people with disabilities.

Haddadin also said “this is a new project; we hope it works out well, and hopefully it will be a gateway to future cooperation with more international organisations”.

Labour intensive is an international system that uses labour without machines in order to improve societies and create job opportunities within environmental and productive projects.

AMMAN — A collaborative innovation forum concluded on Saturday, with recommendations to advance the discussions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Kingdom. 

Organised by the Global Shapers Amman Hub, the two-day event sought to develop innovative approaches to help tackle challenges in education, the 4th SDG, at a national level.

“We chose to focus our event on Goal 4: Quality Education, because of its urgency in the local context,” Hamza Arsbi, one of the trainers, told The Jordan Times on Saturday.

“Education is one of the hottest issues in Jordan and, as we move forward towards a world of technology, we need to learn how to enhance tolerance and diversity in education, while providing students with critical thinking and skills needed in the job market,” Arsbi explained.

The only Global Goals Jam (GGJ) in the MENA region, Amman’s event was run in parallel with 40 other cities worldwide, ranging from Rio deJaneiro, Accra, Copenhagen to London, Delhi and Fukuoka, among others, the GGJ website stated. 

Seven creative teams of around five people were encouraged to work together using a tailored toolkit provided by the organisers to design interventions aimed at short-term local targets in support of the long-term global goals. 

“We believe in the importance of sharing knowledge and building capacities to spark innovation,” Nour Al Gharibeh, Curator of Global Shapers Amman Hub said.

Training professionals, teachers, academics, entrepreneurs, andyoung leaders from across the country took part in the event, which saw the participation of renowned professionals Curt Rhodes, founder of Questscope, Tech Tribes’ creator, Khaled Hijab and Afnan Ali, founder of Eureka.

“We brought together people who really understand education and local challenges related to the sector,” Gharibeh said, noting that, when dealing with the complex issue of education, a locally tailored approach is required. 

Elaborated at the 2015 Social Good Summit, where 193 world leaders committed to achieving 17 SDGs by 2030, the GGJ was officially launched a year later in the presence of then-vice president Joe Biden, Alec Baldwin and John Kerry, according to the GGJ website.

The United Nations Development Programme and MediaLAB Amsterdam initiative seeks to design “realistic, actionable interventions” to implement these goals through interdisciplinary team work using design methods, the website added. 

At the end of the GGJ, the outcomes will be presented as recommendations to the Ministry of Education, with plans to further collaborate on the sector’s challenges.

“The Ministry of Education is under a lot of pressure, and we all need to do our part to help change happen,” Arsbi, who is also the founder of “The Science League”, an NGO promoting scientific education for all, noted. 

All participating countries’ recommendations will also be collected and curated by experts to be exhibited at EDIT, a design conference in Toronto. “This will be a great chance to represent our country within a global context, and to show the world that Jordan is full of resourceful people who strive to make a change,” the duo concluded. 

AMMAN — Dozens of participants “from all spectrums of democracy stakeholders” gathered on Saturday to participate in the “Score for Democracy” event organised by the European Union (EU), which took place in Amman Football Club.

Players were divided into six teams: the EU team, the Independent Election Commission team, the Media team, the Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs (MPPA) team, the Civil Society Organisations team, the House of Representatives team, in addition to members of the Jordan’s women national team.

In his opening remarks, Firas Adwan, Secretary General of the House of Representatives, extended his gratitude to the EU delegation in Jordan for organising the event, which aims at “supporting democracy in Jordan” on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy, which was marked on Friday.

Deputising for the Minister of MPPA, Musa Maaytah, Ali Khawaldeh said: “Football is a global sport that we all share. Football and democracy share the same values as they both encourage us to accept the other and to accept defeat and victory equally.”

“I believe sport is an important tool to encourage democratic values such as tolerance, equity and justice,” Khawaldeh stated.

Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation, Ibrahim Laafia thanked all participants for celebrating the International Day of Democracy and highlighted the importance of including all democracy stakeholders in the event.

Disregarding the hot weather, players took to the field in a friendly atmosphere, demonstrating great team work and sportsmanship between winners and losers. 

The event came as part of the delegation’s celebration of their recently launched programme “Enhanced Support to Democratic Governance in Jordan” achievements on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy, marked annually on September 15.

Launched with the aim of “supporting Jordan’s reform process towards consolidation of deep democracy and to promote inclusiveness of policy and decision-making process”, the 17.7 million-euro programme is funded by the EU and the government of Spain, and implemented by a consortium led by the European Centre for Electoral Support, according to an EU statement.