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AMMAN — With the intention of drawing the world’s attention to children living in war, five Ukrainian photographers on Monday exhibited their work from the Donbass war, depicting the physical and psychological state of children on the frontlines.

The “Children in War” photo exhibition, held by the Ukrainian embassy in cooperation with the Cote d’Ivoire embassy at Broadway Gallery, displayed 25 photographs of children who have experienced war firsthand, to show the dangers of war beyond the physical world, organisers said.

Ukrainian photographer and vice president of the Volunteer Help International Foundation, Olena Prokopenko, said the most interesting part of working on the project was capturing the images of children who were “not posing”.

“The most difficult part was the conditions we worked [in], filming and [taking] pictures was... 1km or 2km from the frontline under the shelling,” she told The Jordan Times.

“Photographers were living under the constant threat of being shelled… We were also unofficial photographers, so we were [not] protected with any signs… We were risking a lot,” Prokopenko added.

The artist said the photographers involved in the project “rethought their lives after the experience”.

“We understood that our daily problems are incomparable with the problems those kids are experiencing in their everyday lives,” she added.

Yevgen Rokicki, president of the International Charity Fund and the Baltic-Black Sea Security Confederation, said the tragedy of children who experience war is depicted in the exhibition.

“The idea of the exhibition... appeared a-year-and-a-half ago, once our foundation started supporting children who were on the frontline area of war. Over the last two years, we have refurbished three schools that were demolished during the war,” Rokicki added.

“The tragedy of children depicted in the photo exhibition is because they are residing in the suburbs of big cities Luhansk and Donetsk, they are either from families with either father or mother, or both parents missing,” he said.

The confederation president noted that the children captured in some photos might even have psychological problems as post-war traumas.

“Those two big cities were captured by the Russians and… have no access to medical institutions, no possibility to go to hospitals; they can only go 300km from their home village to other regional centres, that is why we wanted to attract attention to the tragedies of children who suffer from the war,” Rokicki explained.

He added that medical and psychological support is also offered to children who require it, while “those talented people who… sing, paint, or dance” are brought to the capital so that they can demonstrate their talents and be exposed to TV channels and other institutions.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday hosted an iftar banquet in Al Hussein Youth City on Sunday attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, according to a Royal Court statement.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Senate President Abdur-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, Judicial Council President Hisham Tal, former prime ministers, senior officials and officers as well as Royal Family members, clerics, MPs and members of diplomatic missions in the Kingdom attended the iftar.

The King and Crown Prince performed maghrib prayer with the attendees.

AMMAN — The Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) on Wednesday called on municipalities with buildings that violate the National Construction Law to rectify their situation.

JEA President Majid Tabba said the law requires pre-construction building designs issued from a JEA-certified engineering firm, as well as the association’s accreditation.

 However, “a few” municipalities issue building licences without consulting certified engineering offices, a matter Tabba described as “illegal and unsafe” with potential defects in construction.

The phenomenon decreased after the JEA signed an agreement with municipalities in June 2014 to put an end to these violations, but some municipalities are still violating the law, he told The Jordan Times over the phone.

“Some are not aware of the importance of obtaining proper building designs, as violations often transgress construction standards as well as the allowed dimensions for buildings,” he said, adding that some violations involve buildings encroaching on streets. 

Contractors and housing developers tend to consult uncertified engineering firms to save money, especially since they receive “reduced fines” when they issue permits for already established buildings, according to Tabba.

“In fact it is cheaper to follow the law in consulting professional and competent engineers and obtaining an official permit, as it saves developers the burden of expensive defects that could result from unprofessional assessments,” he said.

“This is not the place to save money,” the JEA president stressed, explaining that violating construction standards jeopardises the safety and quality of a building, especially the ability to add floors or incorporate electromechanic facilities.

AMMAN — The interests of the country and citizens represent the ultimate goal the Interior Ministry and its security and executive institutions seek to achieve under all circumstances, Interior Minister Salameh Hammad said Wednesday. 

At a meeting with heads of security services, Hammad, who was sworn in before His Majesty King Abdullah on the same day, said that unifying efforts and coordinating among security institutions will help overcome security challenges the Kingdom is facing, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Civil Defence Department Director General Lt. Gen. Talal Kofahi, and acting directors of the Public Security Department (PSD) and the Gendarmerie Department, Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Abu Jumaa and Brig. Gen. Atef Hajaya, attended the meeting. 

The newly appointed minister also commended the high level of proficiency of security personnel and their ability to deal with security challenges.

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour attended Hammad’s swearing in ceremony at Al Husseiniya Palace, according to Petra.

Hammad was appointed as interior minister on Tuesday, replacing Hussein Majali, a former PSD director, who resigned on Sunday. 

Police and Gendarmerie chiefs, Gen. Tawfiq Tawalbeh and Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sweilmin were also referred to retirement the same day.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said in a statement that the minister’s resignation was a result of “the lack of coordination among security organisations that include the public security and the Gendarmerie departments”.

The new minister, Hammad, is known for administering the landmark 1989 parliamentary elections when he was secretary general of the Interior Ministry.

Born in Amman in 1944, he served as interior minister from 1993-1995 and 1995-1996.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Baghdad University and two higher diplomas in public administration from France. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday visited Dar Aldawa, a pharmaceutical company that exports its products to more than 40 countries.

The company, which produces 250 pharmaceutical products, employs 760 people in Jordan, 30 per cent of whom are women, according to a Royal Court statement. 

During the visit, His Majesty listened to a briefing by Chairman Akram Jerab on the company's achievements since its establishment 50 years ago, as well as its role in enhancing pharmaceutical security locally and globally, the statement said. 

The chairman spoke about the development of the manufacturing and supply chains, which now include 20 production lines across four factories in Jordan and three in Algeria.

CEO Khaled Harb said the company’s sales last year reached about $111 million, with exports totalling $87 million.

Harb said the company has recently secured a licence to produce pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia and has begun setting up a factory there, to strengthen its regional presence and provide additional job opportunities for Jordanian talent. 

He added that the total sales of Nutridar, a subsidiary of Dar Aldawa that specialises in the production of baby food and formula, neared $22 million in 2024, covering 25 per cent of the local market's consumption.

According to official figures, the pharmaceutical sector contributes 3 per cent of the Kingdom's GDP, and the industry has penetrated more than 78 foreign markets.

Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh accompanied the King on the visit.

AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Wednesday met with Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq Masrour Barzani on the sidelines of the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

The meeting covered the brotherly ties between Jordan and Iraq, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation between the Kingdom and the Kurdistan Region across various economic and technological fields, according to a Royal Court statement. 

Discussions also covered the latest regional developments.

Also on Wednesday, His Royal Highness met with Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, head of Bahrain’s delegation at the 55th WEF, who is the chairman of the Isa bin Salman Education Charitable Trust and chairman of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen).

During a meeting on the sidelines of WEF, the Crown Prince expressed pride in the deep-rooted relations between Jordan and Bahrain, led by His Majesty King Abdullah and Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, another Royal Court statement said. 

Discussions addressed means to advance cooperation and expertise exchange across economic and technological fields, as well as training programmes to equip young people with the technical skills in demand in the labour market.

The meeting also covered developments in the region and the importance of stepping up efforts to ensure the Gaza ceasefire holds, and the sustained flow of sufficient aid to the Strip. 

His Royal Highness expressed Jordan's commitment to supporting Syria's unity, security, and stability.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s Ambassador to Switzerland Nawaf Al Tal, and Director of the Office of the Crown Prince Zaid Baqain attended the meetings.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Wednesday reiterated that realising the Palestinian people's right to freedom and the establishment of an independent, sovereign state are the sole path to securing a just and lasting peace in the region.

Speaking to journalist David Ignatius, Safadi stressed the importance of international cooperation to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the immediate delivery of adequate humanitarian aid, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.  

He stressed that lasting security is only possible through a clear political vision based on the two-state solution, warning that "attempts to address security issues without such a vision are futile".

Highlighting the key role of US leadership in advancing peace efforts, the minister cited US President Donald Trump's stated commitment to pursuing peace.

"We are partners in this goal and we will work together to achieve it," he said. 

Safadi also stressed that any future strategy for Gaza must prioritise its unity with the West Bank and focus on achieving a comprehensive and just peace in line with the two-state solution.

Turning to the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the minister highlighted the catastrophic toll of the conflict, noting that women and children account for some 70 per cent of the more than 47,000 Palestinian casualties. 

He urged the international community to act swiftly and effectively to provide humanitarian assistance to the Strip.

Safadi also called for greater support for Lebanon and its institutions, stressing the need to stand by Syria during its reconstruction phase. 

He expressed optimism for a unified and free Syria that protects the rights of all its citizens following the fall of the previous regime.

The foreign minister is currently attending the 55th World Economic Forum in Davos, where he is holding talks with foreign ministers and senior officials to address regional and global challenges.

AMMAN — The Lower House on Wednesday convened a legislative session, chaired by Speaker Ahmad Safadi, to address pressing national concerns.

The session, attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and other ministers, addressed issues related to security preparedness, economic challenges and labour regulations, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

MP Dima Tahboub asked about the government's preparedness to deal with potential regional political and security upheavals.

Interior Minister Mazen Farrayeh assured lawmakers that Jordan's military and security agencies have developed confidential plans to deal with such scenarios, where Tahboub expressed confidence in the government's response and stressed the importance of transparency to reassure citizens.

Minister of Labour Khaled Bakkar responded to MP Aref Saaydeh's questions about the status of foreign workers. Bakkar said that 288,000 workers have valid work permits, while 53,000 have expired permits as of mid-2021. 

Saaydeh questioned these figures, citing statistics from the Egyptian embassy that estimate there are 925,000 Egyptian workers in Jordan. He decided to turn his question into an inquiry.

The high cost of electricity from the Attarat project was the focus of criticism by MP Khamis Atiyeh. 

Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh defended the project, saying that the cost of generating electricity is currently JD0.11 per kilowatt-hour, with rates subject to adjustment based on operational factors. 

The minister also announced plans for a detailed cost analysis in this regard.

MP Awni Zubi questioned the legal basis for extending administrative detention beyond court sentences, where Farrayeh revealed that 1,495 people are currently being held under administrative detention for security reasons. 

The minister noted that administrative governors dealt with 27,000 complaints in this regard last year, and emphasised that detention decisions are taken to protect public safety.

MP Khaled Abu Hassan asked about childcare facilities at the Yarmouk Government Hospital in Irbid. 

Minister of Health Firas Hawarri stressed that there is a nursery, staffed by five workers paid by parental contributions, with salaries ranging from JD220 to JD250, adding that the workers are not enrolled in the Jordanian social security programme, raising concerns about compliance with the law.

At the beginning of the session, lawmakers praised His Majesty King Abdullah's efforts to promote Palestinian rights on global platforms. 

MPs from various blocs also commended Gaza's resilience in the face of the Israeli occupation, reiterating Jordan's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.

AMMAN — The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement with Singapore's RLAF to implement humanitarian and relief projects in support of the people of Gaza. 

The initiative aims to address urgent needs by providing essential assistance to those affected by the ongoing challenges in the war-torn Strip, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

In a statement, JHCO announced that the agreement includes providing emergency humanitarian aid such as food, medical equipment and relief supplies. The effort is aimed at alleviating the suffering of the people of Gaza, who are experiencing severe hardships.

JHCO Secretary-General Hussein Shibli expressed appreciation for RLAF for its partnership and support.

RLAF officials praised the cooperation, commending JHCO's "exemplary" role in delivering aid efficiently and transparently to those in need.

The agreement exemplifies a shared commitment to humanitarian values and international solidarity. It underlines the dedication of both organisations to address critical issues and support the Palestinian people through joint efforts, Petra added.

AMMAN — Minister of Justice Bassam Talhouni on Wednesday met with French Ambassador to Jordan Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison on Wednesday to discuss boosting legal cooperation and enhancing the justice sector.

The meeting reviewed existing agreements between the two countries and explored mechanisms for enhancing coordination in legal and judicial affairs, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 Discussions also touched on issues of mutual interest, reinforcing the commitment to deepening collaboration.

Talhouni highlighted the strong ties between Jordan and France, stressing the importance of sustained cooperation in the legal and judicial sectors.

Le Cour Grandmaison commended the partnership between the two countries and expressed optimism regarding advancing legal cooperation and maintaining coordination across various areas of mutual concern.

Jordan and France have several international agreements in the legal and judicial domain.