Jordan

Jordan's Queen Rania shares school bench in Soweto township

Jordan's Queen Rania shares school bench in Soweto township Johannesburg - Queen Rania of Jordan shared a school bench with children in South Africa's famous Soweto township this week during a visit to promote education.

The 38-year-old queen visited Phefeni Secondary School in her capacity as ambassador for the United Nations children's agency UNICEF, South Africa's The Star newspaper reported Friday.

UNICEF is funding a gender equality programme in South African schools, aimed at improving educational opportunities for girls.

Arab stocks boosted by global stimulus plans, rising oil prices

Arab stocks boosted by global stimulus plans, rising oil prices Amman - Arab stock markets advanced across the board this week, receiving momentum from US President Barack Obama's plans to spur the economy, gains scored by global bourses and rising oil prices, financial analysts said Friday.

However, they warned that the rally could be "short-lived" due to ambiguity surrounding the outcome of blueprints adopted by the world's leading economic powers to handle the economic downturn.

Pope to visit mosque during May trip to Jordan

Pope to visit mosque during May trip to Jordan Amman/Vatican - Pope Benedict XVI is to visit Jordan's largest mosque and meet with Islamic scholars during his four-day trip to the country starting May 8 at the invitation of King Abdullah II, the royal court announced Thursday.

During his visit to the mosque named after the late King Hussein Bin Talal, the pontiff will also meet with heads of the Jordanian universities and members of the diplomatic corps in Amman, the royal court statement said.

Arab bourses rebound on positive news from global markets

Arab bourses rebound on positive news from global markets Amman - Arab stock markets reacted positively this week to good news out of Wall Street and other global markets as well as to rising oil prices, financial analysts said Friday.

However, they expected regional markets to plateau in the coming weeks as investors monitor the first quarter results and world developments.

Syria's al-Assad arrives in Amman for coordination talks

Bashar al-Assad Amman - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Amman Friday for talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II on means of closing Arab ranks ahead of the regular Arab summit conference in Doha at the end of March.

The visit is the culmination of moves by the two countries to sidestep what appeared to be a cooling in the ties between Amman and Damascus that followed Jordan's failure to attend the Doha Arab summit, diplomats said.

This had been called by Qatar at the height of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in January to decide counter steps against the Jewish state.

Syria's President al-Assad to visit Jordan Friday

Syria's President al-Assad to visit Jordan Friday Amman  - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is to visit Jordan on Friday as part of ongoing efforts to repair pan-Arab ties which received a deep blow during the recent Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, the royal court announced Thursday.

Discussions between al-Assad and Jordan's King Abdullah II would focus on "ongoing efforts aimed at working out a unified Arab stand versus common challenges," the royal court said in a statement.

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