Category: General

UNESCO, the Culture Ministry and the Petra National Trust Wednesday launched the “Community Mapping of Intangible Heritage in Irbid” project.

Culture Minister Haifa Najjar, who joined virtually, said: “We are delighted that Irbid was chosen as one of nine global cities that witnessed community mapping and that this project coincides with the ‘Irbid: The Arab Capital of Culture 2022’.

“It has a royal and governmental attention to progress the celebrations so that they reflect the civilization, culture, heritage and character of Irbid.”

Najjar praised UNESCO for its efforts and its participatory approach, especially in areas of cooperation on intangible cultural heritage.

Community mapping of intangible cultural heritage in urban areas is part of a larger project undertaken by UNESCO to protect the cultural heritage and encourage local communities, NGO’s and the government to pass on cultural heritage.

Source: Jordan News Agency

His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday participated in the Global Disability Summit, which was held virtually with the participation of a number of government leaders and officials, and representatives of international organisations.

In remarks at the summit, King Abdullah said Jordan is taking every opportunity to enhance inclusion, as true progress cannot be achieved without fostering inclusive development that safeguards the rights of persons with disabilities

His Majesty pointed to the endorsement of the constitutional amendments earlier this year, which stipulated that laws must protect the rights of persons with disabilities, and enhance their participation and integration in all aspects of life.

“Jordan legislated an ambitious new Law in 2017 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the first anti-discrimination law in the region”, the King said, adding that Jordan has also launched a national strategy for inclusive education, and a national plan for accessibility.

His Majesty stressed that COVID has slowed down progress in ensuring inclusion and threatened some of the gains made in the employment of persons with disabilities, noting that as economic growth falters, the resources earmarked for inclusive development at the national level have become harder to attain.

“This is why Jordan and other countries in the region and beyond look to our international partners to help ensure that attention to the rights of persons with disabilities remains integral to political, economic, and social development efforts, through disability-sensitive support,” the King noted.

In addition, His Majesty underlined that “the political engagement of persons with disabilities is by no means less important than their economic engagement. They are part of societies everywhere, and that must be reflected in education, health care, business, sports, tourism in all facets of life. None can be dismissed as a luxury”.

The Global Disability Summit, held for the second time, is organized this year by the governments of Norway and Ghana, and the International Disability Alliance.

The summit seeks to enhance cooperation between states, international organisations, civil society and other stakeholders to increase inclusive development, especially in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The themes of the summit include enhancing the capacity of organisations of persons with disabilities, inclusive education and health services, inclusive employment, and inclusion in situations of crises and conflict, with a focus on climate change.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Lower House Speaker, Abdul Karim Dughmi, received Wednesday in Cairo President of the Algerian People’s National Assembly, Ibrahim Boughali, on the sidelines of the 32nd Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) currently held in Egyptian capital.

Dughmi lauded ties between the two countries, which represent a model in joint Arab action, voicing Jordan’s keenness to support the Arab summit to be held in Algeria later.

He underlined the Jordanian Parliament’s keenness to strengthen partnership and cooperation with the Algerian People’s National Assembly through the exchange of parliamentary visits and expertise in various fields.

For his part, Boughali said Algeria’s people and leadership’s appreciate Jordan’s stances, stressing his country’s keenness to coordinate with the Kingdom on various issues.

He added that Algeria is looking forward to increasing trade exchange between the two countries and benefiting from the Jordanian parliamentary experience.

Jordan’s ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative to the Arab League, Amjad Adaileh, and Algerai’s ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative to the Arab League, Hamid Chebira, attended the meeting.

Dughmi, accompanied by a parliamentary delegation, had arrived in Cairo to participate in the 32nd conference of the AIPU, where he was received at Cairo International Airport by President of the Arab Parliament, Adel Al Asoomi.

An official source from Public Security Directorate (PSD) on Wednesday said ten people were nabbed in a number of governorates countrywide a few days ago, based on “purely legal procedures not related to any political activity or tendencies.”

The source noted the arrests were based on those judicial subpoenas, related to charges, including “dissemination of false news that could stir up strife.”

The detainees were transferred to the competent judicial authorities, in accordance with the provisions of the law, the source added.

The source denied that the arrests were related to any other matter or activity, adding that Jordan’s “impartial” judiciary has the final say in this regard under the umbrella of the law.

Source: Jordan News Agency

A total of 5 aftershocks early Wednesday followed the earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale that struck Lake Tiberias late Tuesday, Director of the Jordanian Seismological Observatory (JSO) Ghassan Sweidan said.

“The aftershocks ranged between 2 and 3.4 degrees on the Richter scale,” he added.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Temperatures on Wednesday will be slightly above annual average, with cold weather prevailing in most parts of the Kingdom, except in the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and Aqaba where it will be moderate, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said in its daily update.

Clouds will appear at low altitudes, and winds will be northwesterly moderate, the JMD added.

Another rise in temperatures is forecast on Thursday and Friday, bringing pleasant weather conditions countrywide, with clouds at different altitudes and southeasterly moderate winds.

On Friday night, the weather department did not rule out the possibility of scattered rainfall in the southern region, with easterly to southeasterly moderate winds, stirring dust in the Badia.

The maximum and minimum temperatures in Amman today will range between 15 degrees Celsius, dipping into 4C at night, while the Gulf of Aqaba will see a fair 22C, dropping to 10C during night hours.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Agricultural Research Center (NARC).

The delegation included academics from the University of Nebraska, representatives of the private sector and farmers.

The visit, conducted in coordination with the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) in cooperation with the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, discussed ways of future cooperation in many scientific fields, especially agricultural spheres, as well as promoting scientific research.

NARC Director General, Nizar Haddad, underlined the importance of cooperating and interlinking with the US Chamber of Commerce, through investment and highlighting sustainable water management, pesticides, fodder and mills, irrigation techniques, food products, livestock, and aquaculture.

He pointed out that the NARC, since its inception, has been employing scientific research outputs and working together with local and international partners that support the development of the agricultural sector and the agricultural sustainability and food security.

For his part, President of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, Mark McHargue, commended NARC’s role in reflecting Jordan’s image to partners and its success stories in developing the sector, stressing his country’s support for agricultural investment in Jordan through the introduction of modern technologies and the exchange of scientific expertise between the two parties.

He added that the Jordanian environment is suitable for many crops, and that Jordanian products have reached many countries of the world, especially dates and vegetables, as due to their quality, which has become a competitor to international products.

Source: Jordan News Agency