Day: March 3, 2024

Amman: Director of Public Security Directorate (PSD), Maj. Gen. Obaidullah Maaytah, attended the celebration held on the occasion of World Civil Defense Day, which falls on March 1 annually.

This year’s celebration came under the theme: “Innovative Technologies in Service of Civil Defense” to keep pace with great role of technological development globally in the field of advanced and innovative mechanisms and equipment, according to a PSD statement.

The statement added that this effort seeks to preserve the nation’s capabilities and reduce human and material losses in accidents.

In his speech at the ceremony, Director of Civil Defense Department, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Omari, referred to development of work efficiency by introducing and benefiting from technology within the civil defense fields reflects “positively” on confronting and responding to disasters, and raising level of humanitarian services provided to society.

For his part, Country Director of Mercy Corps in Jordan, Darius Radcliffe, stressed the
importance of building a partnership with Civil Defense Department, which represents one aspect of “fruitful” cooperation with government institutions.

The organization, Radcliffe noted, will continue to perform its role in building capabilities of local communities in cooperation with public institutions to reduce effects of climate change and disaster response.

The celebration, which was attended by a number of senior officers and strategic partners, saw the screening of a documentary film about the achievements of Jordan’s civil defense apparatus and its development and progress, and a discussion of working papers presented by the strategic partners in disasters and reducing their impacts.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, an exhibition of modern and advanced civil defense machinery and equipment was held in all the Kingdom’s governorates, which will be displayed to all citizens and visitors Monday.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh emphasized the strong strategic ties between Jordan and the United States, lauding the support from the US that aids Jordan’s developmental endeavors, after receiving on Sunday a delegation of US Senators visiting Jordan.

In the meeting attended by US Ambassador to Jordan, Yael Lempert, Khasawneh highlighted the US assistance outlined in a memorandum of understanding, emphasizing its role in advancing economic reforms within Jordan’s vision for economic and public sector modernization. He commended the US Congress for its supportive role in Jordan’s development efforts.

The Prime Minister outlined Jordan’s comprehensive modernization project led by His Majesty King Abdullah II across political, economic, and administrative domains, underscoring the Economic Modernization Vision’s goals to boost economic growth and create job opportunities, citing significant progress in job creation during 2022.

Khasawneh briefed the delegation on King Abdullah II’s efforts to halt Is
raeli aggression in Gaza and provide urgent aid, including Jordan’s multiple aid airdrops to Gaza in collaboration with other countries, including the US.

He reiterated King Abdullah II’s stance on the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state, emphasizing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the framework of the two-state solution as pivotal for regional stability.

The Prime Minister stressed the vital role of supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in providing essential services to Palestinians.

The delegation, including Senator Cory Booker from the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senator Michael Bennett from the Senate Committee, acknowledged the strategic partnership between the US and Jordan.

They praised Jordan’s handling of regional challenges and commended King Abdullah II’s recent remarks during his US visit regarding the situation in the West Bank and Gaza. They also highlighted Jordan’s comprehensive reform ef
forts.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Minister of Social Development, Head of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Women’s Empowerment, Wafaa Bani Mustafa, and Omani Minister of Social Development, Dr. Laila Najjar, on Sunday discussed aspects of joint cooperation and coordination in the areas of social protection and expertise exchange.

During the meeting, Bani Mustafa stressed the importance of joint cooperation in the social protection field.

Bani Mustafa highlighted the target underprivileged categories criteria approved by the National Aid Fund (NAF), under 57 indicators to identify the groups eligible to receive cash aid.

Bani Mustafa said these indicators align to changing conditions of the targeted families and expansion of the volume of benefit from cash assistance for 2024 and next year within allocated budgets.

Additionally, Bani Mustafa reviewed the ministry’s women-driven programs after creating its women’s unit and completing its technical frameworks.

The unit, she said, is concerned with women’s issues, based on its data
and programs, referring in this regard to efforts of Inter-Ministerial Committee on Women’s Empowerment.

Bani Mustafa touched on protection programs for children and women exposed to violence, adding that the ministry responds to cases that require specific forms of interventions to provide protection for the most vulnerable groups.

She also referred to efforts of “Makani” centers and “Oasis” project to empower women and girls in local community centers nationwide , in partnership with UNICEF and UN Women, which provides training and empowerment to target groups in several fields.

For her part, the Omani minister stressed importance of exchanging joint expertise in multiple areas of the social sector, specifically in social protection strategy and protection measures related to children, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, as these categories are most affected by family disintegration.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Speaker of the Senate Faisal Fayez engaged in discussions with several ambassadors from friendly nations to bolster bilateral ties across diverse sectors.

In individual meetings, Fayez conferred with Kuwaiti Ambassador Hamad Rashid Al Marri, Tunisian Ambassador Mufida Zaribi, Turkish Ambassador Erdem Ozan, French Ambassador Alexis Le Cour, and Brazilian Ambassador Marcio Fagundes do Nascimento. Discussions included a regional overview, particularly addressing the Palestinian situation.

There was a call for sustained Arab and global endeavors to halt Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, ensure continuous relief aid to Gaza, and achieve a political resolution.

The ambassadors reiterated their commitment to nurturing and elevating the longstanding and multifaceted relations between their respective nations and Jordan.

Source: Jordan News Agency

SHARJAH: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed, this Saturday evening, the opening of the 33rd edition of Sharjah Theatre Days, organised by the Department of Culture, at the Cultural Palace in Sharjah.

Seven theatrical performances will compete for the Awards of this edition, which concludes on March 9, and 12 theatrical performances presented by theatrical groups in the country, in addition to a wide participation of artists, playwrights and researchers from various countries in the Arab world within the intellectual programmes, dialogues and seminars accompanying performances.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah honoured the Emirati artist Abdullah Rashid with the ‘Honored Local Personality Award’ for this edition, and the Omani artist Fakhriya Khamis, the winner of the ‘Sharjah Award for Arab Theatrical Creativity’ in its seventeenth edition. His Highness also honoured the ‘Fawanees theatre’ from the Kingdom of Morocco, which won the
‘Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Award for Best Arab Theatrical Work 2023’ for her show ‘Tekanza…The Story of Tuda.’ The award was received by the show’s director, Amin Nasour.

During the ceremony, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and the attendees, watched two visual presentations, the first of which included the biography of the Emirati artist Abdullah Rashid, who made great efforts and continuous giving through his activity in local theatre in the UAE as an actor, writer and administrator since his beginnings in 1984, and his contribution to the development of the theatrical movement.

The second show covered stations from the career of artist Fakhriya Khamis, and the immortal works she presented that earned her honour throughout her career in the Omani and Arab theatre.

The ceremony witnessed the introduction of the members of the jury for this edition comprising writer Hazza Al-Barari from Jordan as head of the committee, artist Walid Al-Zaabi from the UAE, director Dr. Masoud Bou Hussein
from Morocco, director Nasser Abdel Moneim from Egypt, and director and writer Ihab Zahida from Palestine.

A group of performances were qualified to participate in this year’s competition, which were selected through the viewing and classification committee. These performances are: ‘Marwad Kohl’ by the Dibba Society for Culture Arts and Theatre; ‘Iskan’ by the Ras Al Khaimah Theatre; ‘Estiyad’ by the Dibba Al-Hisn Society for Culture, Heritage and Theatre; ‘Walimat Eid’ by the Sharjah Public Art and Modern Theatre; ‘Al Tareq Al Akhir’ by the Dubai National Theatre; ‘Al Mashhad Sifr’ by the Khorfakkan Arts Theatre; and ‘ Kayfa Tusamihna’ for the Sharjah National Theatre team.

Two theatrical performances were chosen to be presented outside of this year’s event competition: ‘Zaghrouda’ by the Kalba Folklore and Theatre Society, and ‘Ramad’ by the Fujairah Theatre team.

The programme of the 33rd edition of Sharjah Theatre Days includes two performances from the tenth edition of the Kalba Short Play Festival, w
hich are: the work that won the Best Show Award, which is ‘The Chairs’ by director Hamid Mohammed, and the work that won the Best Direction Award, which is ‘The Last Choice’ by director Abdullah Al Ali.

A group of graduates of Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, and a number of graduates of Arab theatre colleges and institutes, are participating in the ’12th Sharjah Forum for Arab Theatre Pioneers,’ which annually celebrates outstanding Arab theatre academies, and gives them the opportunity to keep up with the activities of theatrical days and learn about the cultural scene in the Emirate of Sharjah. In addition to attending a group of lectures and training workshops presented by a group of Arab theatre professors, and a programme of introductory visits to the most prominent cultural edifices in the emirate.

The intellectual forum accompanying this edition is organised under the theme ‘Theatrical Directing between Impact and Influence’ with the participation of researchers and theatre practitioners from severa
l Arab countries.

The cultural programme accompanying the 33rd edition of Sharjah Theatre Days includes an interview with the artist Fakhriya Khamis on the occasion of her winning the Sharjah Award for Arab Theatrical Creativity, and another interview with the artist Abdullah Rashid on the occasion of his selection and honour in this edition. The programme also includes two cultural seminars, the first themed ‘Semantics and Aesthetics of Costumes in Theater Today,’ and the second under the theme ‘Authorship Techniques in Contemporary Theatre: The Bahraini Experience as a Model.’

The opening ceremony was attended, alongside His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, by Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Consultative Council of the Emirate of Sharjah; Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police; Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture; Dr. Mansour bin Nassar, Head of the Legal Department of the Government of Sharjah; Jamal Al Tarifi, President of A
l Qasimia University; and a number of senior officials, artists, intellectuals, media professionals, and theatre lovers and enthusiasts.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: Jordan took part on Sunday in the General Assembly of the Arab Federation for Sports of People with Disabilities in Cairo, where the League of Arab States is hosting the event.

Jordan was represented in the meetings by the Secretary-General of the Jordan Paralympic Committee and a member of the Board of Directors of the Arab Federation for Sports of People with Disabilities, Amer Al-Shaar.

According to a committee statement, the meetings discussed a number of files related to the activities and programs of sports for people with disabilities at the level of Arab countries.

For his part, Al-Shaar expressed his appreciation for the role of the Arab Federation for Sports of People with Disabilities, and lauded their keenness to integrate people with disabilities from the Arab world and discover their sporting talents through the implementation of joint Arab programs and competitions that meet their needs and encourage them to practice sports.

Source: Jordan News Agency