Arab Spring a defining moment in Arab history – King
AMMAN (Jordan Times) – His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday said the Arab Spring is a pivotal stage in Arab history. “At the end of the day, when we all […]
Interfaith Tracking
A message from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center, Amman, Jordan: Several months back we launched InterfaithTracking.com as a site dedicated to tracking interfaith events happening all year round and so far the response has been great as each month we are seeing more and more visitors coming and more […]
Assad should initiate new political phase in Syria – King
AMMAN (JT) – His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday said Syrian President Bashar Assad should start a new phase of political life in Syria. Responding to a question during an interview with the BBC in London on the current situation in Syria and what he would do were he in […]
Jordan advised to play it carefully as powers seek more sanctions on Damascus
By Omar Obeidat Jordan Times AMMAN –– As economic sanctions against the Syrian regime are set to be broadened, experts stressed that Jordan has to carefully weigh its interests before joining the drive. With the US and the European Union (EU) still working to put more pressure on Syria to […]
Football fans jubilant as Jordan beats Singapore
By Muath Freij AMMAN – Jordanians received the national team’s victory in Friday’s World Cup qualifying match with jubilation, taking to the streets to celebrate. Jordan defeated Singapore 2-0 in the match held at the Amman International Stadium on Friday, advancing for the first time to round four of the […]
With Al Aqsa bridge plans, Israel ‘playing with fire’
By Taylor Luck OCCUPIED JERUSALEM – Jordanian officials have stepped up concerns over Israeli plans to demolish a ramp leading to Jerusalem’s Al Haram Al Sharif, warning that the move represents the most provocative act in the Holy City since the second Intifada. Bab Al Magharbeh bridge leads to Al […]
American perplexity on Mideast trends
By Rami G. Khouri, The Daily Star, Lebanon After an extended stay in the United States that allowed me to speak with Middle East specialists and interested citizens in many cities, I sense a new theme that broadly defines American attitudes to developments in the Middle East: perplexity. Of course, […]
Coffee: an enduring Jordanian tradition
By Muath Freij JORDAN TIMES AMMAN – Since pre-modern times, coffee has been a symbol of Jordan’s heritage and a centrepiece of traditional Jordanian hospitality, according to Ahmad Abu Rumman. The tribal leader, who identified himself as a sheikh of the Ramamna tribe in the Muqablein neighbourhood, noted that serving […]
New 7 Wonders of Nature to be announced today
By Khetam Malkawi AMMAN – Voting for the Dead Sea to be one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature is a “duty” that all Jordanians should contribute to, members of the public interviewed by The Jordan Times said on Thursday. “I voted for the Dead Sea without even asking […]
Egypt blasts sever Jordan’s gas supplies for seventh time
By Taylor Luck AMMAN – Explosions in the Sinai Peninsula severed Egyptian gas supplies to Jordan on Thursday, casting doubt over the security of the Kingdom’s main energy source. The blast, which marks the seventh act of sabotage on the Arab Gas Pipeline this year, took place at dawn on […]
In Amman, Eid Al Adha changes with the times
By Muath Freij AMMAN – During the bygone days of the 1950s, Eid Al Adha in Amman was very different from how it is today, according to residents who remember that era. Yasin Akkash, whose father Saadi was a sheep trader in the capital, said the process of selling and […]
‘Work on main section suspended due to armed attacks’
By Hana Namrouqa JORDAN TIMES AMMAN – Work on a major part of the Disi Water Conveyance Project remains suspended for over a month now due to security concerns and recurring armed attacks targeting workers, a source involved in the implementation of the project said on Wednesday. Work on the […]
Prince Hassan calls for just distribution of resources
By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – HRH Prince Hassan on Tuesday called for the establishment of a regional social charter that acts as a “legal covenant for a just distribution of resources and human security”. In his address at the opening of the Sixth Jordanian International Mining Conference, he proposed that […]
Israel plans 2,000 settler housing units, freezes funds to PA over UNESCO move
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM/GENEVA (Agencies) – Israel is to build some 2,000 new settler housing units in annexed East Jerusalem and the West Bank in response to a UNESCO decision to admit Palestine as a full member, a senior official said Tuesday. The decision was taken at a meeting of Prime Minister […]
Regional experts call for giving universities more independence
By Khetam Malkawi AMMAN – Higher education experts from Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states have recommended that their countries revise their strategies to give universities more independence. They also called for revising subjects taught in university to align the output of higher education institutions with labour market demands. […]
Jordan: Foreign assistance for 2011 to reach $2.8b – Hassan
By Omar Obeidat JORDAN TIMES AMMAN – Foreign economic assistance to Jordan for 2011 is expected to reach $2.8 billion, according to Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Jafar Hassan. He explained that foreign assistance directed to the Kingdom this year comes in several forms: Cash grants to support the […]
Intimidating and malicious
The US threat to stop supporting UNESCO financially if it votes for the admission of Palestine as a full member amounts, simply, to blackmail. Washington has been taking an actively hostile position on the Palestinian quest for recognition as an independent state by international organisations; now it is UNESCO’s turn […]
Three-weekend spectacle promotes natural wonder
By Muath Freij JORDAN TIMES DEAD SEA – Jordanians and tourists came together at the Dead Sea on Thursday to enjoy the balmy weather and watch live performances at the opening of Dead Sea Nights. The event, which is open every Thursday and Friday from 6:00pm to midnight until November […]
First group of staff leaves for field hospital in Libya
AMMAN (Petra) – The first group of the medical, technical and administrative staff of the Jordan military field hospital to Libya left the Kingdom on Saturday. The medical equipment and the rest of the staff will be arriving at the hospital over the next two days. The hospital, dispatched upon […]
Three heartening signs of Arab change
By Rami G. Khouri, The Daily Star, Lebanon At rare moments in life, history takes a sharp turn for the better, and sometimes you can see and feel this happening in front of your eyes. This past week was just such a moment for the Arab world, as three different […]