Author: Mahdeehassan

LONDON — Global bank shares took another beating on Monday despite a UBS takeover of embattled Swiss rival Credit Suisse and actions by financial authorities aimed at calming investors fearing a broader crisis. UBS agreed to take over Credit Suisse for $3 billion Swiss francs ($3.25 billion) in a government-brokered deal over the weekend following days of market upheaval over the health of the banking sector. Hours later, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and other major central banks announced a coordinated effort to improve banks’ access to liquidity. While shares in UBS and other banks sank on Monday, the broader…

AMMAN — In an effort to promote sustainable fashion, Jordanian Haneen Khalaf, an architect and a multidisciplinary designer, is turning organic waste into wearable biomaterials. Instead of shopping for fabric to bring her designs to life, Khalaf either gathers food leftovers from her own home fridge or tours local supermarkets to help rid them of onion peels or overripe fruits and vegetables, such as watermelons, cabbage leaves and zucchinis. Khalaf is an alumni of Fabricademy, a six-month interdisciplinary course focused on digital fabrication, textiles and biology. The postgraduate programme is hosted at TechWorks, a Crown Prince Foundation (CPF) initiative. The…

AMMAN — The Israeli government must clearly declare that the remarks and acts of its finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, do not represent the stances of the government as a whole, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi said on Tuesday. In a press conference, Safadi added that Israeli officials contacted the Jordanian government following the statements, and expressed that such remarks do not represent their government “in one way or another”. However, Safadi stressed that Jordan will not accept any “blur” or opaqueness in meaning, according to a ministry statement. The Israeli minister’s provocative, racist and inflammatory statements…

AMMAN — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko noted that Jordan is now one of his country’s most important partners in the Arab World. In an interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, which was published on Monday, Vassilenko expressed his country’s eager anticipation of Jordan’s membership in the OIC’s Islamic Food Security Organisation, which Kazakhstan helped found. He pointed out that the organisation provides a platform for member governments to collaborate on a range of innovative, high-impact initiatives to ensure that all people have access to sufficient food. Vassilenko said that since the beginning of diplomatic…

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the Israeli ambassador in Jordan, following the extreme racist and inciting statements of the Israeli minister of finance and his use of a map of Israel, showcasing the borders of Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories during his participation in an event held in Paris. The ministry described the Israeli minister’s move as “inciting and reckless”, constituting an extremist racist act and a violation of international norms and the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sinan Majali revealed that the Israeli ambassador was urged to convey…

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, on Tuesday attended the JAF’s ceremony marking Al Karamah Battle’s 55th anniversary. The ceremony was held at the memorial site for the martyrs of Al Karamah Battle, which has undergone recent refurbishments to highlight the battle’s significance and tell the story of its martyrs who gave their lives to defend the nation, according to a Royal Court statement. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Hneiti received King Abdullah and Crown Prince Al Hussein upon their…

AMMAN — Jordan has witnessed a remarkable decline in marriages in 2022 compared with 2021, down by 15.2 per cent, or 11,526 contracts, Chief Islamic Justice Abdul Hafez Rabtah said on Monday. Rabtah, announcing the detailed statistical report of the Supreme Judge Department for 2022, said that the Kingdom witnessed 75,360 marriage contracts in 2021, which decreased to 63,834 contracts in 2022, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. “This figure must be viewed by all authorities for analysis,” he stressed, noting a need to discern the causes and expected effects of the continued decline in the number of marriages, which…

Dubai, UAE – Gulf Court Hotel Business Bay is excited to announce its Ramadan offering at Café Délices; Guests are invited to indulge in a sumptuous Iftar buffet to celebrate the Holy Month with stunning views of the Dubai Water Canal. As the sun sets, immerse yourselves in the serene melodies of live oud music while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Dubai Water Canal and break your fast at our Ramadan Iftar buffet featuring an array of regional and international dishes. Priced at AED 159 per person, our Iftar menu boasts a live carving station and a variety of…

AMMAN — HRH Princess Basma on Monday said that women’s struggles and sacrifices should always be commemorated and glorified. The princess’s remarks were made during the Jordanian National Commission for Women’s (JNCW) commemoration of International Women’s Day in cooperation with UN Women. Princess Basma acted as patron to the event, which was held at the Royal Cultural Centre in Amman. Such important occasions, Princess Basma stressed, should work to increase “our efforts to motivate and empower women everywhere”. “We need to ensure that women’s issues remain a top priority, and to stand next to them at all times,” Princess Basma…

AMMAN — More than 15,000 students from 250 schools around the Kingdom have taken part in the Enterprise Business Challenge (EBC), implemented for the 12th year in a row by INJAZ, a local non-profit in Jordan, in partnership with the Prince’s Trust International (PTI). INJAZ is implementing the Business Challenge programme in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, and in partnership with the Prince Charles International Foundation, and this year, in partnership with the RYSE project “Resilient Youth and Socially and Economically Empowered”, as well as the Mashreq International School and Montessori School. Out of 28 nominated teams, six teams…