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AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a call on Thursday, discussed the latest developments in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as prospects for cooperation.

 His Majesty stressed the need to stop the Israeli war on Gaza and ensure the success of the ceasefire in Lebanon, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The call covered escalations in the West Bank and efforts to urgently increase aid to Gaza.

The King commended Canada’s support for efforts in pursuit of peace on the basis of the two-state solution, as well as its contributions to the humanitarian response in Gaza.

AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Thursday inaugurated the revamped Ghor Al Mazraa Comprehensive Healthcare Centre aimed at improving the quality of services.

His Royal Highness listened to briefings by Health Minister Firas Hawari and Himmetna Charity Organisation CEO Fadia Samara on the project, which comes as part of an agreement between the ministry and Himmetna to revamp 25 comprehensive healthcare centres in various regions of the Kingdom, a Royal Court statement said. 

Hawari said the inauguration of such a centre aligns with the Economic Modernisation Vision and the Ministry of Health's strategy aiming to provide the best comprehensive medical care to citizens and contribute to alleviating pressure on hospitals.

For her part, Samara said the project introduced internal medicine, orthopaedic, family and community medicine, and paediatric clinics; a physiotherapy department, a recovery and rehabilitation department, a mammogram room, a telemedicine room, and a waiting system; as well as the expansion of the emergency department, the laboratory, internal clinics, maternal and child healthcare, and dental clinics.

The project was built on an area of 1,916 square metres, at a cost amounting to JD2.25 million collected as financial and in-kind donations from citizens, the private sector, and civil society organisations.

The Princess Basma Comprehensive Healthcare Centre in Amman’s Al Muhajireen area was revamped and inaugurated by the Crown Prince last year as per the signed agreement, under which Himmetna provides funding, planning and supervision, and the Ministry of Health provides logistical and administrative support, as well as medical equipment.

After meeting with donors who supported the Karak centre revamp project, Crown Prince Al Hussein expressed appreciation of Himmetna organisation, the donors, and all workers at the centre, stressing that the project is an example of successful partnerships between the government, civil society organisations, and the private sector to improve the quality of services for citizens.

AMMAN — The government is scheduled to submit its policy statement to the Lower House on Sunday upon which it will request a vote of confidence. 

The lawmakers will begin on Monday deliberating the government's policy statement with the vote of confidence expected to be conducted few days after. 

His Majesty King Abdullah entrusted Hassan with forming a new Cabinet on September 15, succeeding that of Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh.

AMMAN — The first Gulf-Jordan Investment Conference is set to kick off on Wednesday at the Dead Sea, with the aim of boosting economic ties between Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. 

Organised by the Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCCC) in partnership with the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and supported by the GCC General Secretariat, the event will focus on forging public-private partnerships and exploring investment opportunities in Jordan, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

FGCCC Secretary General and Qatar Chamber Director General Saleh bin Hamad Sharqi described the conference as a platform to discuss mutual opportunities and overcome challenges in key sectors such as transport, logistics, technology and industry.

The conference is part of a broader strategy to deepen trade relations between the GCC and Jordan, increase bilateral investment and expand joint commercial ventures. Sessions will focus on areas such as agriculture, food security and the food industry, as well as discussions on tourism and medical tourism.

The event comes at a time of growing economic cooperation between the GCC and Jordan. Bilateral trade has increased significantly, rising from $5.5 billion in 2019 to $8.6 billion in 2022. Jordan's exports to Gulf countries have also increased, reaching $2.3 billion in 2023, up from $1.9 billion in 2022.

AMMAN — The government is scheduled to submit its policy statement to the Lower House on Sunday upon which it will request a vote of confidence. 

The lawmakers will begin on Monday deliberating the government's policy statement with the vote of confidence expected to be conducted few day after. 

His Majesty King Abdullah entrusted Hassan with forming a new Cabinet on September 15, succeeding that of Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a March State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a drug dealer to five years in prison for selling illicit drugs worth JD10 to an undercover agent in Zarqa in January 2022.

The court declared the defendant guilty of obtaining illegal narcotics (hashish) with the intent of selling the drugs to an undercover agent on January 28.

The SSC handed the defendant a five-year prison term for the offence of possessing illegal narcotics and ordered him to pay JD5,000 in fines.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was in possession of illegal narcotics and sent one of its agents to pose as a buyer.

“The AND agent got in touch with the defendant and asked him for a small stash of illegal drugs in return for JD10,” court documents said.

When the two met, AND agents immediately arrested the suspect, court papers added.

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that the court “did not provide solid evidence to implicate his client”.

The lawyer also charged that there were “irregularities in the investigation procedures”.

Meanwhile, the SSC prosecution office asked the higher court to uphold the sentence and the fine imposed on the defendant.

The higher court maintained that the SSC had followed the proper procedures in issuing the sentences against the defendant.

“It was clear to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to possessing the illegal drugs without being subjected to any form of duress,” the higher court said.

The Court of Cassation judges were Mahmoud Ebtoush, Majid Azab, Fawzi Nahar, Ibrahim Abu Shamma and Mohammad Shreiri.

AMMAN — The Global Social Media Forum on Thursday commenced in  under the theme “The Future of Media in a Digital-First World”.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening session, moderated by journalist Hazem Rahahleh, Minister of Government Communications and Official Government Spokesperson Mohammed Momani discussed the ongoing transformation from traditional to digital media.

Momani stressed the growing need for interactive and responsive content, particularly on social media platforms, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.  

He also highlighted significant challenges in the digital media landscape, including the proliferation of misinformation, fake news, and hate speech, noting that some online campaigns are deliberately orchestrated to destabilise societies.

To address these issues, Momani called for stronger digital safeguards to protect public discourse. 

He also urged on influencers and social media personalities to uphold professionalism by delivering accurate, fact-based information responsibly and objectively.

“Ethical standards in digital media are crucial to shielding society from divisive and harmful content,” Momani said, emphasising  the importance of equipping young entrepreneurs with the tools to leverage technological advancements effectively.

Momani commended Jordan’s balanced media approach, which fosters both freedom and responsibility, highlighting the Kingdom's pioneering efforts in media and information literacy. 

He also urged Arab countries to draw inspiration from Jordan’s initiatives, recognised by the Arab League as a model for the region.

Executive Director of the Forum Ayman Rasheed described the event as a vital platform for media professionals and social media influencers to explore emerging trends, tackle challenges, and share innovative solutions. 

He also commended Jordan’s role as a media leader in a region grappling with significant political and social challenges,  underscoring  the Kingdom’s position as a stable hub in the region.

The forum opened with a video titled “A Journey Where the Most Precious Asset is the Individual Citizen,” which showcased Jordan’s leadership under His Majesty King Abdullah in promoting public opinion, facilitating humanitarian aid, and supporting the Palestinian cause.

Over 350 participants from various media sectors attended the event, including representatives from television stations, news agencies, digital platforms, as well as journalists, content creators, and public relations professionals. 

Discussions centered on critical topics in digital media, such as innovation, the role of artificial intelligence in communication, content creation, and storytelling. 

AMMAN — In conjunction with His Majesty King Abdullah's visit to Karak, , on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee, Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi visited projects being implemented under Royal directives in Karak.

Issawi, who is also head of the follow-up committee for the implementation of Royal Initiatives, visited key projects and met with local communities during his field visits, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In the Mujib area, Issawi checked on El Zay Ready Wear Manufacturing Co‎, a project launched under a Royal initiative to establish satellite branches and units. 

The Satellite Branches Initiative was launched in 2008 to establish production hubs within villages and governorates. To date, 30 such projects have been launched, providing more than 9,700 jobs across the Kingdom.

In the Lajoun area, Issawi visited a fodder cultivation project, a Royal initiative in agricultural development managed by the Lajoun Cooperative Society.

Speaking to the press, Issawi stressed that these projects are directly in line with King Abdullah's vision to increase agricultural productivity nationwide.

He also pointed out that Royal directives focus on enhancing the role of cooperatives in implementing income-generating agricultural projects. 

The aim of such initiatives is to support local development and improve the living standards of families in these areas, he added.

According to Issawi, the Satellite Branches Initiative is a "strategic" effort to create jobs for young people, reduce poverty and unemployment, and empower local communities through sustainable economic growth.

These projects are seen as "key contributors" to the Kingdom's development, increasing productivity and raising the standards of living for many Jordanians, he added.