Good news. Petra has retained for the second month its possession in the top 7 rank of the New Seven Wonders competition as declared today in the January 2007 ranking results based on global polls which will remain online for one week only. http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=520   Petra is now with the Colosseum, Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Pyramids of Giza, Statues of Easter... [read more]

I will refere here to our dear blogger and expert in Middle East issues Mr Abu Aardvark who has posted about two important public opinion polls on reform and media freedoms in Jordan.   I have written a long post in my Arabic blog about the survey conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) in the University of Jordan to explore the understanding and perspectives of the Jordanian public... [read more]

Ibrahim Nassrallah is a fantastic Jordanian writer and poet. He has contributed remarkably to the wealth of the Jordanian/Palestinian literature record with a package of creative poets that focused mainly on the Palestinian resistance. This has put him face to face with the custodians of the traditional, government-supportive cultural apparatus in Jordan. A case was raised against Nassrallah last... [read more]

Whether you like it or hate it, the World Economic Forum which has just finished in Davos is the most important meeting of global decision makers and influential characters. Issues debated and initiatives developed in the WEF usually represent the main global developments taht we will see in the nest few years. I have tried to compile to you the 10 most vibrant topics-from my perspective- that were... [read more]

I do not know how many of you folks are "old" enough to remember the great Jordan TV channel 2 and its package of comedies that used to be broadcasted at 8:30 each night. Well, here is my list of favorite 10 comedies which include oldies (70s and 80s) as well as the newer comedies in the 90s. (some of the descriptions here are taken from the BBC's comedy guide)   1-     Mind your language:   The... [read more]

    Few days ago I was driving in the company of a friend who just came back from the USA. I was listening to my default car cassette which is "ABBA Gold" and that guy told me; "Hey.. you do not want to be mistaken for a gay!". Well I have no problems with gays as long as they are a few kilometers away from me, but I was shocked to learn that the cowboys in the USA consider ABBA music... [read more]

I have to say that I felt satisfied to read that the Jordanian pharmaceutical firm Al Hikma has manage dto buy the german oncology firm Ribosepharm GmbH from Ratiopharm GmbH for 45 million dollars. Of course I have no personal gains in this deal but it is a good rare example of the competitiveness of some Jordanian firms. Al Hikma is the biggest pharmaceutical Co. in Jordan and its ability to provide... [read more]

King Abdullah's declaration that Jordan is seeking to develop a national nuclear energy programme raised a lot of skeptic feelings. This is a natural reaction. How could a small country facing considerable poverty and unemployment challenges think of developing a costly nuclear programme which could not be at the top of its development list? This argument is correct, and I had the same reaction... [read more]

This is hot news I just discovered. In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz today, King Abdullah II declared that Jordan is seeking to develop a nuclear programme. The King said to Akiva Eldar, one of Israel's few progressive and real peace advocates in a comprehensive interview which contained the following statements: " The rules have changed on the nuclear subject throughout the whole... [read more]

I have received a message from the Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance (HAMSA) announcing the launch of their 2nd youth essay contest on "Civil Rights in The Middle East". I hope some of the readers here will be interested in participation. Here is a summary of the message describing the contest.   Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance (HAMSA) has re-launched the "Dream Deferred" Essay... [read more]

The Oxford Business Group has published its annual review of Jordan's economy in 2006. The summarised review goes as follows.   2006 was marked by major developments in Jordan, with key advances in the economy, especially in terms of attracting foreign investment, partly offset by the pressures applied by high fuel prices and the need to cut state expenditure. Jordan finished the year with... [read more]

This is a very important article by the Jordanian economic expert Dr Yousuf Mansour that explains why the government does actually profit from selling fuel in Jordan. This will make a lot of us see the truth in a crystalized way. Dr Mansour is a social-friendly economist and I urge you to monitor his weekly column in the Jordan Times.   Fuel and taxes Yusuf Mansur Jordan’s fuel policy leaves... [read more]

Our dear blogger and lovely Kinzi has tagged me with an awkward task to reveal five things that you (readers) do not know about me. Well, to begin with I asked myself why should anyone be interested in the hidden stories or features of other people. Is it curiosity, fun or trying to get to know people more? For the tranquility of my psyche I want to choose the second option to make this entry as... [read more]

As explained in my latest post  I am trying to reduce the schizophrenic condition I have in my career vs blogging time by more integration of the two identities. In my assessment of my blogging year and in relation to my professional career and issues of interest I decided to reduce controversial politics from my Jordan watch blog for many reasons that I will explain now. As I said in my previous... [read more]

Throught last year I was faced with a continuous internal struggle for identity and interests, and that was very evident in one platform, my blogging outlets. I have an academic degree in environmental science holding an MsC from the University of Jordan since 1996. I am passionate about environmental issues and I guess I have crafted myself a good career and impact. I have workd with projects with... [read more]

Well, it has been a fantastic first year in blogging for me. Did I reach "blogging maturity" yet? I do not know but what I can say is that I have enjoyed the first year experience of blogging but I am now trying to assess this phase seriously and I will be posting a series of personalized posts about blogging today to reflect on the past year. I still recall the days when I developed my desire to... [read more]

I have never liked Saddam Hussein. During the black times he governed Iraq he committed barabaric crimes against his own people, wasted the lives of millions in useless wars and wasted billions of oil money that could have resulted in development, security and prosperity. However, the way he was killed is also barbaric and reflects the reality of the gang that is governing Iraq now. Forget about... [read more]