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West bank: Israeli occupation forces demolished several homes and agricultural structures in the West Bank and Jerusalem, marking an intensified effort to target Palestinian presence and expand Jewish settlements.

According to Jordan News Agency, the Israeli army razed a house in al-Walaja village, west of Bethlehem, sealing off the area and restricting the movement of vehicles and residents. Khader al-Araj, head of the local council, reported the incident.

In occupied Jerusalem, Israeli bulldozers demolished a house in Silwan, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The Wadi Hilweh Information Center, which monitors Israeli actions, confirmed the demolition. This neighborhood has faced ongoing pressures from the occupation authority, with numerous demolition orders issued for what is termed “unauthorized” construction. Local Palestinians face significant challenges in obtaining building permits.

The demolition in Jerusalem is part of a broader trend this year, with 93 structures, including 53 homes, destroyed by the end of May, based on independent statistics. Reports indicate that more than 623 homes and structures have been demolished in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, since the beginning of the year. This is seen as part of a strategy to displace Palestinians and tighten Israel’s control over the area.

Further south in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, residences and agricultural structures were also demolished. The Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements reported that troops with military bulldozers stormed Khirbet al-Fakhit, demolishing two rooms, a kitchen, a sanitary unit, a sheep pen, a water well, and water tanks.

Additionally, the Israeli army arrested 14 Palestinians during raids across the West Bank.

Niagara: The EU and Canada reaffirmed their commitment on Wednesday to supporting the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and strengthening efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. They welcomed the agreement reached at the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit last October. This came in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the fourth ministerial meeting between Canada and the EU in Niagara, Canada.

According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting was attended by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand. Both sides emphasised their strong and continued support for ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region. They expressed appreciation for the diplomatic efforts led by the US and the active role played by regional mediators in reaching the agreement.

They urged all parties to adhere to its full implementation and refraining from any actions that could jeopardise its success. Both sides stressed that resuming humanitarian aid is a priority, emphasising the importance of facilitating its entry and wide-scale distribution through land crossings and maritime routes and enabling the UN, its agencies and humanitarian organisations to operate independently and impartially within the Gaza Strip.

They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, calling for continued support for the Palestinian Authority, including ongoing reforms and creating the conditions for its return to Gaza within the framework of the donor group for Palestine. The statement affirmed that a just and lasting peace must be based on the two-state solution, “within secure and internationally recognised borders,” in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the outcomes of the High-Level Conference on the Settlement of the Question of Palestine, hosted by New York under the auspices of Saudi Arabia and France.

It called for de-escalation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, demanding an end to settler violence, which has targeted Christian communities and to illegal settlement expansion, as well as an end to Israeli military operations. It stressed the need for the occupying power to abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law.

Amman: The national industrial production grew modestly in the first nine months of 2025, supported by gains in manufacturing and electricity output, according to the latest data released by the Department of Statistics (DoS).

According to Jordan News Agency, the Industrial Production Quantity Index recorded an increase of 1.47% during the January-September period compared with the same timeframe in 2024. The overall index stood at 88.96 points, up from 87.67 points a year earlier, based on the new base year (2018 = 100).

On a monthly basis, however, industrial activity slowed. The index declined by 0.8% in September 2025 compared with the same month last year, and by 3.58% compared with August 2025, signaling a short-term contraction across several sub-sectors.

The manufacturing sector, which carries the largest relative weight of 88.7%, expanded by 1.45% in the first nine months of the year. The electricity sector saw a stronger increase of 3.24%, reflecting higher generation capacity and demand, while the mining and quarrying sector slipped 0.87%, weighed down by lower extraction volumes.

In monthly terms, September’s downturn was primarily driven by a 1.32% decline in manufacturing output, offset partially by gains of 3.39% in both the mining and electricity sectors.

Comparing September to August 2025, the index showed a broader industrial slowdown. Manufacturing production dropped 2.63%, mining decreased 1.65%, and electricity output fell sharply by 18.27%, reflecting seasonal demand fluctuations.

Economists noted that while the cumulative growth in industrial production indicates steady recovery momentum, the monthly declines underscore the fragility of short-term demand and the impact of external factors, including energy prices and regional supply chain shifts.

Beirut: Several towns in southern Lebanon came under Israeli artillery shelling on Wednesday evening, with a number of homes targeted, a Lebanese security source reported. The source told Petra’s correspondent in Beirut that the shelling was particularly intense in the city of Mays al-Jabal, where violent explosions were heard across the border area.

According to Jordan News Agency, additional shells struck the outskirts of the western town of Houla. The source added that Israeli military vehicle movements were observed from the Bayad Blida site following the launch of a shell that landed between Mays al-Jabal and the town of Muhaybib in the eastern sector. The Israeli army fired illumination flares over Wadi Hunin.

Beirut: The Northern Military Region on Wednesday thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics on its northern fronts and within its area of responsibility. Two projectiles loaded with narcotics were launched from Syrian territory toward Jordanian land. Following intensified search and inspection operations, the projectiles were seized and handed over to the competent authorities.

According to Jordan News Agency, the incident highlights ongoing efforts to secure the border and prevent illegal activities. The authorities are actively working to combat smuggling operations and ensure the safety and security of the region. The seized narcotics have been transferred to the relevant agencies for further investigation and processing.

Amman: The selling price of a gram of 21-karat gold, the most sought-after by consumers in the local market, stood at JD 84 at jewelry shops on Wednesday, compared to JD 80.90 for purchases.

According to Jordan News Agency, the morning bulletin issued by the General Association for Owners of Jewelry Shops indicated that the selling prices per gram for 24-karat, 18-karat, and 14-karat gold were recorded at JD 96.20, JD 74.40, and JD 55.60, respectively.