Day: April 29, 2025

Amman: Osama Talfah, Director of the Public Sector Modernization Program Management and Implementation Unit at the Prime Ministry, participated in a panel discussion on the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) governance report. This discussion took place during the second day of the 9th International Conference of the Middle East and North Africa Public Administration Research Network (MENAPAR), held in collaboration with the Service and Public Administration Commission (SPAC).

According to Jordan News Agency, Talfah emphasized the importance of modernization and reform units within governments. He described these units as the operational arms responsible for translating UN recommendations into measurable and implementable institutional reforms, thereby turning global guidance into tangible actions.

Talfah explained that the Public Sector Modernization Program Management and Implementation Unit is charged with executing the seven pillars of the modernization plan. A key focus is the enactment of administrative reform legislation, which provides a clear and sustainable legal framework. This involves drafting the necessary executive regulations and guidelines to ensure effective implementation.

Furthermore, Talfah pointed out the governance of public leadership appointments through transparent, merit-based selection processes. These processes align with the principles of institutional integrity as outlined in Jordan’s Public Sector Modernization Roadmap.

He underscored that governance should facilitate inclusion rather than exclusion, acting as a moral and administrative contract between the citizen and the state. Talfah asserted that the success of governance should ultimately be assessed by its impact on people’s lives.

Tunis: Jordan is participating in the 39th edition of the Tunis International Book Fair, inaugurated by Tunisian President Kais Saied and running through May 4.

According to Jordan News Agency, Jabr Abu Fares, Union President, stated that Jordanian publishing houses’ participation in the fair is a vital opportunity to enrich the cultural landscape and boost the regional and Arab visibility of Jordanian books.

He noted that the event offers Jordanian publishers a valuable platform to showcase their latest and diverse releases across various literary and knowledge fields to a broad audience of readers, publishers, and distributors from Tunisia and across the Arab and international publishing communities. Abu Fares emphasized that North African book fairs serve as strategic gateways to wider Arab readerships and cultural stakeholders, adding that the presence of Jordanian literature at such events, including the Tunis fair, supports the spread of Jordan’s cultural output, fosters future partnerships with Arab counterparts, and enables the exchange of expertise to advance Jordan’s publishing industry.

During a press conference unveiling the fair’s activities, Director Mohamed Salah El-Qadri noted Jordan’s consistent engagement in such literary events. This year’s fair features participation from 29 countries, with 313 pavilions (166 international and 147 Tunisian), offering visitors access to over 110,000 books.

Aqaba: A responsible military source in the Jordan Armed Forces Arab Army announced that officers at the Southern Military Zone on Tuesday foiled an attempt to smuggle narcotics using a drone along the kingdom’s western border.

According to Jordan News Agency, the source stated that the Border Guard forces, in coordination with military security agencies and the Anti-Narcotics Department, detected a drone attempting to illegally cross into Jordanian territory. “Rules of engagement were applied, and the drone was shot down inside Jordan,” the source added, noting that the seized contraband was handed over to the competent authorities.

The source reaffirmed that the Jordan Armed Forces remain firmly committed to employing all available resources to thwart smuggling and infiltration attempts in order to safeguard the kingdom’s security and stability.

Irbid: A responsible military source at the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces – Arab Army stated that the military received a report on Tuesday evening about the discovery of an old Mills-type hand grenade in the Qum area of Irbid Governorate.

According to Jordan News Agency, the source said a specialized team from the Royal Engineering Corps was dispatched to assess the situation and handle the device in accordance with standard procedures to ensure the safety of citizens and property.

Following a technical inspection, the grenade was safely secured and transported for later destruction at a designated site. No injuries or property damage were reported.

The Jordan Armed Forces urged citizens not to touch any suspicious objects or unexploded ordnance and to report them immediately for their safety.