Day: May 17, 2026

Amman: The Jordan Press Association (JPA) on Sunday convened a meeting with a delegation from the Jordan Anti-Drugs Society (JADS) to formulate joint institutional strategies to combat narcotics trafficking and enhance public awareness campaigns, officials said.

According to Jordan News Agency, Tareq Al-Momani, President of the JPA, highlighted the critical role that civil society organizations play in countering drug abuse, which primarily targets the youth demographic and poses a direct threat to community stability and security.

Al-Momani commended the ongoing operational efforts of the Jordanian Armed Forces and national security agencies in securing the kingdom’s borders against smuggling operations and intercepting local illicit distribution networks.

The press chief underscored the necessity of institutional synergy between state bodies, civic groups, and mass media channels to amplify educational programs regarding the catastrophic societal impact of addiction. He reaffirmed the association’s readiness to leverage its media networks to support national counter-narcotics frameworks.

Mousa Al-Tareefi, CEO of JADS, recognized the journalistic and national contributions of the press union in regulating the profession and aligning media output with public interest goals. Al-Tareefi detailed the strategic objectives of the society’s active awareness programs, presenting a series of collaborative proposals designed to align local civic action with the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the country’s national anti-drug strategy.

Aqaba: Al-Aghwar Al-Shamaliyah A coalition of local charities and community centers will launch a comprehensive, free medical day on Monday in the Al-Aghwar Al-Shamaliyah (Northern Jordan Valley) to provide specialized healthcare and community awareness programs, organizers announced.

According to Jordan News Agency, the initiative is organized by the Amer bin Abi Waqqas Charity Association, in partnership with the Waqqas Charity Association, the Women’s Program Center, and the Community Rehabilitation Center. The medical event will take place at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) complex in the town of Waqqas.

The medical drive, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., will feature several specialized clinics and healthcare services. These include an ophthalmology clinic providing vision tests and diagnoses for vision impairment, cataracts, glaucoma, strabismus, and astigmatism. A bone density clinic for osteoporosis, a family medicine clinic, and a women’s healthcare unit will also be operational.

In addition to direct medical treatments, the event will host an educational program tailored for adolescents aged 11 to 16, alongside a community awareness lecture highlighting the dangers of narcotics on individuals and society.

The organizing association stated that prescribed medications will be dispensed to patients free of charge following their medical evaluations. Furthermore, patients diagnosed with conditions requiring surgical intervention will be referred for necessary surgeries, which will be performed free of charge based on medical necessity and treatment priority.

Amman: Experts said on Saturday Jordan has a promising technology and artificial intelligence sector with a talented youth capable of competing regionally and globally. They spoke at a session of the fourth Tawasul 2026 Forum, themed “Visions for Tomorrow’s Opportunities,” which opened today at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center on Dead Sea shores, under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II.

According to Jordan News Agency, speakers noted that artificial intelligence has become a pivotal tool in data analysis, project management, and workflow forecasting, in addition to its growing role in digital content production and accelerating operational processes within companies and institutions. They pointed out that Jordan is home to about 48,000 technology specialists, in addition to having one of the highest ratios of engineers to its population, which enhances the potential to become a regional hub for technology, innovation, and cybersecurity.

Maher Al-Khayyat, co-founder and CEO of AugentisAI, emphasized that introducing AI in companies is now integral to daily operations and productivity, moving beyond theoretical discussions. He highlighted that producing digital content, which previously took about a month, can now be completed in less than three days due to generative AI applications.

Rami Al Karmi, Assistant President for Innovation at Al-Hussein Technical University, highlighted the importance of redefining educational institutions’ roles by shifting from traditional, certificate-based education to job market-linked education. This involves enhancing on-the-job training, practical applications, developing English language and communication skills, and fostering a mindset geared towards creativity, implementation, and innovation.

Zaid Al-Farroukh, co-founder and Managing Partner of Propeller, a venture capital firm, stressed individual responsibility in marketing products and ideas locally and internationally. He noted that technological advancements have doubled productivity and expanded opportunities for software companies and scalable ideas to reach larger user segments.

Ashraf Bany Mohammad, a professor of economics and technology policy at the University of Jordan, emphasized that a supportive legislative environment is crucial for transitioning to entrepreneurship and the digital economy. He called for swift action to align with global technological developments, support talented youth, and enhance communication skills among university students, thereby aiding in marketing Jordanian products on a global scale.

Mafraq: Mafraq Government Hospital has opened a second internal neurology clinic to streamline patient treatment, marking part of a broader upgrade of its healthcare services, the hospital administration announced on Monday. The hospital said in a statement that the internal medicine and neurology clinics will now receive patients every Monday and Wednesday.

According to Jordan News Agency, the expansion follows the recent introduction of several other specialized units at the facility, including neurosurgery, diabetes, pulmonology, endocrinology, and osteoporosis clinics. Alongside the expansion of outpatient services, the hospital completed a modernization of its surgical emergency hall. The unit has been upgraded to a seven-bed capacity, with each station fully equipped to accelerate response times for critical cases, reduce patient wait times, and alleviate overcrowding in the emergency department.

The administration also announced it has launched a digital appointment booking service for its outpatient clinics via WhatsApp to improve administrative efficiency.

Amman: Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Sahar Shakhatreh, recently visited Al-Andalus Secondary Girls School in Amman’s Marka district to assess the impact of professional development programs under the “Developing Jordan’s Public School Educators” project. This initiative, funded by the Canadian government in partnership with the Ministry, aims to enhance the skills of educators within the public school system.

According to Jordan News Agency, Shakhatreh was joined by Canadian Ambassador to Jordan, Louis-Martin Aumais, and representatives from the Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA) during her visit. The delegation toured classrooms and engaged in a dialogue session with participants and graduates of the academy’s programs to discuss the impact of these training initiatives on educational and leadership practices.

The project focuses on improving the school environment and student learning through various programs. Shakhatreh emphasized the importance of investing in teachers’ and educational leaders’ capacities, highlighting how this contributes to raising learning quality and fostering stimulating and safe learning environments. She praised the collaboration with the Canadian government and the academy for implementing quality programs that support public education.

During the visit, Shakhatreh reviewed modern classroom practices employed by teachers who completed the Professional Diploma in In-Service Education and the School Networks Program. These practices incorporate technology and interactive, inquiry-based teaching strategies into the learning process.

Canadian Ambassador Aumais reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting Jordan’s education sector and strengthening partnerships that enhance teacher capabilities and improve educational outcomes. The “Developing Jordan’s Public School Educators” project is designed to empower educators, thereby positively impacting the quality of education and student achievement levels in Jordan’s public schools.

Jordan: Jordanian teams at the World Artificial Intelligence Championship in Indonesia secured second and third places in the global competition, which featured thousands of students from around the world.

According to Jordan News Agency, a statement issued Sunday by Robotna, the company overseeing the Jordanian delegation’s participation, announced that High Level Schools won second place, while Professional Schools claimed third place.

The achievement highlights the ability of Jordanian students to compete successfully in one of the world’s leading forums dedicated to artificial intelligence and innovation. The company described the results as a source of national pride, reflecting the advanced skills Jordanian students possess in innovation and the application of artificial intelligence to develop globally competitive projects and practical solutions.

The participating teams qualified through the Innovation Nation competition, which included more than 1,200 student teams from across Jordan. The finalists were selected among the top 10 projects nationally before advancing to the international stage. The Jordanian projects stood out for their innovative use of artificial intelligence in addressing practical challenges, demonstrating students’ awareness of future-oriented issues and their ability to transform technical knowledge into competitive global solutions.

In addition to the top placements, several Jordanian schools received distinguished awards during the competition. Creative Nations Schools and Latin Patriarchate Schools earned Distinguished Merit awards, while bronze awards went to Al Madina Al Fadila School and Kindergarten, Aqaba Digital School, Educational Creativity School, National Orthodox School, Al Raed Al Arabi School, and Al Ridwan School.