Day: April 22, 2026

Ajloun: As part of field monitoring of Royal Initiative projects, Chief of the Royal Court Yousef Issawi on Wednesday toured Ajloun Governorate, where he inaugurated and inspected a number of service facilities.

According to Jordan News Agency, these projects were launched following the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II during his field visits and meetings with local residents of the northwestern governorate, with the goal of enhancing the quality of services and living conditions. Issawi, who leads the committee overseeing the implementation of Royal Initiative projects, started his tour in the Osara district, inaugurating a fully-equipped, multi-purpose hall designated for social and cultural activities, national celebrations, and other gatherings.

Accompanied by Ajloun Governor Nayef Hadayat and Zaha Cultural Center Executive Director Rania Subaih, the Royal Court Chief toured the hall facilities associated with the Al-Ayoun Municipality. He also inaugurated an adjacent five-a-side football pitch, constructed concurrently with the hall through royal initiatives to serve the local youth.

Issawi emphasized the significance of such facilities in nurturing young talent and providing a safe sporting environment. In Kufranja, he assessed the progress of a housing project intended for low-income families, highlighting a commitment to offer suitable and decent housing for the most vulnerable families. This project is part of a broader initiative to construct 17 housing units across several areas of Ajloun, allocated according to Ministry of Social Development priorities.

He noted that the project is approximately 80% complete, stressing the importance of expediting work to ensure timely delivery of homes to beneficiaries, aligning with His Majesty’s vision of prioritizing citizens and improving their standard of living. In 2022, the announcement of 1,300 new housing units across various regions and rural areas, including 100 in Ajloun, was made, to be implemented in multiple phases.

The Royal Court Chief concluded his tour in Anjara, inspecting the maintenance, rehabilitation, and furnishing project for the Church of Our Lady of the Mountain and the House of Mary, Mother of Hope, for Orphans, undertaken under direct royal directives.

He was briefed on construction and comprehensive maintenance work at the sites, underscoring the special attention royal initiatives give to religious sites, especially since the Church of Our Lady of the Mountain is a globally recognized Christian pilgrimage site. This reinforces its position as a strategic center for religious tourism on the local and international map, playing a comprehensive spiritual role and attracting visitors worldwide. It also serves a humanitarian and social role through its orphanage, he noted.

In press remarks, Issawi stressed that the primary aim of the projects is to improve the quality of services, noting that the study and implementation processes are conducted in full coordination with relevant national institutions, ensuring their alignment with comprehensive development plans.

Amman: Chairman of Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI), Fathi Jaghbir, on Wednesday reiterated support for increasing the participation of Jordanian women in the industrial sector under dedicated programs and training courses. Jaghbir, who also heads Amman Chamber of Industry, said the initiatives aim to develop women’s business and professional capabilities, targeting either business owners, or holders of managerial roles. To date, he announced women currently account for around 30 percent of the total workforce in Jordan’s industrial companies.

According to Jordan News Agency, Jaghbir made the remarks on the occasion of the International Day of Women in Industry, observed on April 21 annually, and adopted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). In recognition of women’s contributions to industry, he noted the chambers honored a number of female industrial entrepreneurs during the Jordan Industry Day event, held under Royal patronage under the theme “Excellence and Advancement.” Jaghbir also highlighted the launch of Amman Chamber of Industry’s Women Industrialists Business Council, aimed at strengthening ties among Jordanian women in industry and boosting their contribution to the national economy.

Amman: The Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by MP Haitham Ziyadin, met on Wednesday with the Lebanese Ambassador to Jordan, Brigitte Tawk. Discussions during the meeting centered on ways to strengthen bilateral relations, with both parties reiterating the “deep brotherly” ties between the two countries.

According to Jordan News Agency, Ziyadin emphasized the need for developing joint cooperation in various sectors, notably in political and economic fields, to serve common interests and enhance the region’s stability. He also called for continued coordination and consultation on issues of mutual concern.

MP Iman Al-Abbasi highlighted the importance of unifying parliamentary efforts to support pan-Arab causes and strengthen collaborative action to address regional challenges, which would contribute to achieving security and stability. The discussions also covered several regional and international issues of mutual interest, with both sides advocating for dialogue and cooperation in addressing current challenges.

Ambassador Tawk acknowledged the “pivotal” role of His Majesty King Abdullah II in promoting the region’s stability and commended the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi in supporting Arab causes. She expressed gratitude and appreciation to Jordan for its continued support to Lebanon, specifically in the electricity supply project, highlighting the importance of this cooperation in alleviating challenges faced by the Lebanese people.

Amman: Jordan is advancing its efforts to develop and diversify its social protection system to foster justice and economic independence, as stated by Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa. The Kingdom is actively implementing plans within the framework of the National Social Protection Strategy (2025-2033).

According to Jordan News Agency, the strategy aims to improve service efficiency, expand its scope, and ensure sustainability, aligning with the Royal directives and the Economic Modernization Vision. Minister Bani Mustafa shared these insights during a dialogue session organized by the Amman Group for Future Dialogues.

The strategy is anchored on four key pillars: Karama (Dignity), focusing on social assistance; Tamkeen (Empowerment), centering on social services; Fursa (Opportunity), aimed at decent work and social security; and Sumood (Resilience), which seeks a balance between direct support and economic empowerment. The minister emphasized King Abdullah II’s directives to transition families from aid dependency to being productive and financially independent.

Minister Bani Mustafa highlighted that several families benefiting from the National Aid Fund (NAF) have successfully graduated from the program. Current social assistance programs target the most vulnerable families through monthly cash transfers, benefiting approximately 250,000 households, or 1.127 million individuals.

Looking ahead, the plans for 2025-2028 aim to increase the percentage of families accessing additional services, with a focus on employment programs and vocational training. By 2028, the strategy aims to provide 12 key services, enhancing the efficiency and integration of social protection programs. The “Empowerment” pillar focuses on investing in human capital through improved education access, expanded vocational training, and rehabilitation programs linked to the labor market.

The strategy plans to train at least 1,500 beneficiaries receiving NAF’s financial assistance and connect support programs to job opportunities to promote economic independence.

Amman: A Royal Decree was issued on Wednesday to prorogue the ordinary session of Parliament, effective from the morning of 26 April 2026.

According to Jordan News Agency, the decree was announced with the intention to officially end the current session of Parliament on the specified date. The decision comes as part of the regular parliamentary procedures and scheduling within the legislative framework. The prorogation marks the conclusion of parliamentary activities for the session, pausing the legislative process until further notice.

Amman: The Eastern Military Zone successfully foiled three drug smuggling attempts early Wednesday involving a large quantity of narcotic substances transported via electronically guided balloons, within its area of responsibility along the front lines. Border Guard units detected the balloons, engaged them, and brought them down, along with their payloads, inside Jordanian territory. This was carried out in coordination with security agencies and the Anti-Narcotics Department.

According to Jordan News Agency, the seized materials were handed over to the relevant authorities to complete the necessary procedures.