<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/prime-minister-narendra-modis-jordan-visit-first-in-three-decades-by-indian-prime-minister-vijay-gokhale-32441">Modi&#39;s Jordan visit, first in three decades by Indian PM: Vijay Gokhale</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to Jordan is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in three decades, said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-meets-crown-prince-of-abu-dhabi-india-uae-sign-5-agreements-32442">PM meets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; India, UAE sign 5 agreements</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday as the two sides signed five agreements including a historic pact awarding a consortium of Indian oil companies a 10 per cent stake in offshore oil concession.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-supports-israels-right-to-defend-itself-pentagon-32443">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-supports-israels-right-to-defend-itself-pentagon-32443"> supports Israel&#39;s right to defend itself: Pentagon</a>

The United States fully supports Israel`s right to defend itself against threats, a Pentagon spokesman said after Israel said it struck 12 Iranian and Syrian targets in Syria, including Syrian air defense systems.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445">India to build </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445">speciality</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445"> hospital, women empowerment </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445">centre</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445"> in Palestine, signs 6 MoUs</a>

India and Palestine signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s worth $40 million on Saturday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fire-breaks-out-in-mumbai-shop-12-fire-tenders-at-the-spot-32450">Fire breaks out in Mumbai shop; 12 fire tenders at the spot</a>

A fire broke out in a &nbsp;shop near Maya Hotel at Mankhurd in Mumbai.&nbsp;

As many as 20 fire tenders at the spot battling to put out the fire, according to news agency ANI.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-4th-pink-odi-india-vs-south-africa-32417">4th ODI IND vs SA: South Africa beats India by 5 wickets</a>

South Africa defeated India in the 4th ODI match by 5 wickets at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat.

Modi's Jordan visit, first in three decades by Indian PM: Vijay Gokhale Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to Jordan is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in three decades, said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. PM meets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; India, UAE sign 5 agreements Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday as the two sides signed five agreements including a historic pact awarding a consortium of Indian oil companies a 10 per cent stake in offshore oil concession. US supports Israel's right to defend itself: Pentagon The United States fully supports Israel`s right to defend itself against threats, a Pentagon spokesman said after Israel said it struck 12 Iranian and Syrian targets in Syria, including Syrian air defense systems. India to build speciality hospital, women empowerment centre in Palestine, signs 6 MoUs India and Palestine signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s worth $40 million on Saturday. Fire breaks out in Mumbai shop; 12 fire tenders at the spot A fire broke out in a shop near Maya Hotel at Mankhurd in Mumbai. As many as 20 fire tenders at the spot battling to put out the fire, according to news agency ANI. 4th ODI IND vs SA: South Africa beats India by 5 wickets South Africa defeated India in the 4th ODI match by 5 wickets at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat.

WION Morning News Brief, February 11, 2018

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday Israel would &quot;do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves&quot; after a report its military has carried out dozens of air strikes against jihadists in Egypt&#39;s Sinai.

Netanyahu did not address the New York Times report published Saturday, commenting only generally on Israel&#39;s stance. Israel&#39;s military also declined to comment.

The report, citing current and former US and British officials, said Israeli forces had carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Egypt over the course of more than two years with Cairo&#39;s approval.

Using unmarked drones, helicopters and jets, the strikes in northern Sinai just over the border with Israel have targeted jihadists linked with the Islamic State group, it said.

Speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu referred to recent meetings with US President Donald Trump, European leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

&quot;As I also made it clear to President Trump and afterwards to European leaders and President Putin, our presence here is the main element in the Middle East blocking the spread of radical Islam, led by Iran and Islamic State, which also threaten all other elements in the world,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;We are not bent on war, but we will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves.&quot;

IS-linked militants have waged a deadly insurgency in the Sinai against Egyptian security forces, and Israeli officials have watched the violence with concern.

Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab nations with peace treaties with Israel, but relations remain sensitive due to hostility toward the Jewish state among their populations.

While there have long been suggestions of behind-the-scenes military and intelligence cooperation between Egypt and Israel, officials from both countries rarely comment publicly on them.

Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken of improving ties with Arab nations in recent months without providing details, with many analysts saying their shared concern over Iran and IS jihadists has drawn them closer together.

The report said Israeli forces had carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Egypt over the course of more than two years

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday Israel would "do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves" after a report its military has carried out dozens of air strikes against jihadists in Egypt's Sinai. Netanyahu did not address the New York Times report published Saturday, commenting only generally on Israel's stance. Israel's military also declined to comment. The report, citing current and former US and British officials, said Israeli forces had carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Egypt over the course of more than two years with Cairo's approval. Using unmarked drones, helicopters and jets, the strikes in northern Sinai just over the border with Israel have targeted jihadists linked with the Islamic State group, it said. Speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu referred to recent meetings with US President Donald Trump, European leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "As I also made it clear to President Trump and afterwards to European leaders and President Putin, our presence here is the main element in the Middle East blocking the spread of radical Islam, led by Iran and Islamic State, which also threaten all other elements in the world," he said. "We are not bent on war, but we will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves." IS-linked militants have waged a deadly insurgency in the Sinai against Egyptian security forces, and Israeli officials have watched the violence with concern. Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab nations with peace treaties with Israel, but relations remain sensitive due to hostility toward the Jewish state among their populations. While there have long been suggestions of behind-the-scenes military and intelligence cooperation between Egypt and Israel, officials from both countries rarely comment publicly on them. Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken of improving ties with Arab nations in recent months without providing details, with many analysts saying their shared concern over Iran and IS jihadists has drawn them closer together.

Netanyahu says will 'defend ourselves' after report of Sinai strikes

Jordan`s King Abdullah II on Monday urged the international community to &quot;fulfil its responsibilities&quot; towards Palestinians in Jerusalem and support the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

His comments, following a meeting with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, came after US President Donald Trump sparked Arab and Muslim outrage by recognising Jerusalem as Israel`s capital and suspended funds to UNRWA.

&quot;The international community must fulfil its responsibilities to protect the rights of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem,&quot; Abdullah said, according to a palace statement.

The city is &quot;the key to achieving peace and stability in the region,&quot; he said.

East Jerusalem was under Jordanian adminstration before Israel occupied it during the 1967 Six-Day War.&nbsp;

Israel, which signed a peace treaty with Jordan in 1994, recognises the kingdom`s status as custodian of the city`s holy sites.

Jordan in December called Trump`s move &quot;a violation of decisions of international law and the United Nations charter&quot;.

The Jordanian monarch also on Monday urged the international community to support the UN agency for Palestinians.

Earlier this month, the United States put on hold two planned payments of more than $100 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

The agency, set up after the 1948 creation of Israel that drove huge numbers of Palestinians from their homes, faces what the UN has described as the &quot;most severe&quot; crisis in its history.

'The international community must fulfil its responsibilities to protect the rights of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem,' Abdullah said, according to a palace statement

Jordan`s King Abdullah II on Monday urged the international community to "fulfil its responsibilities" towards Palestinians in Jerusalem and support the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. His comments, following a meeting with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, came after US President Donald Trump sparked Arab and Muslim outrage by recognising Jerusalem as Israel`s capital and suspended funds to UNRWA. "The international community must fulfil its responsibilities to protect the rights of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem," Abdullah said, according to a palace statement. The city is "the key to achieving peace and stability in the region," he said. East Jerusalem was under Jordanian adminstration before Israel occupied it during the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel, which signed a peace treaty with Jordan in 1994, recognises the kingdom`s status as custodian of the city`s holy sites. Jordan in December called Trump`s move "a violation of decisions of international law and the United Nations charter". The Jordanian monarch also on Monday urged the international community to support the UN agency for Palestinians. Earlier this month, the United States put on hold two planned payments of more than $100 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. The agency, set up after the 1948 creation of Israel that drove huge numbers of Palestinians from their homes, faces what the UN has described as the "most severe" crisis in its history.

Jordan king urges world to back Palestinian rights

Arab states will soon embark on a diplomatic drive to persuade the United Nations to recognise a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war, Jordan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said.

Six Arab foreign ministers met in Amman on Saturday to follow up on earlier decisions taken by the Arab League to counter US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&#39;s move in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, a decision that overturned decades of US&nbsp;policy on the Middle East.

A committee made up of Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinians and headed by Jordan was set up after an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Cairo shortly after Trump&#39;s decision that called on Washington to abandon its decision.

The Arab League said at the time the move would spur violence throughout the region and described Trump&#39;s announcement as a &quot;dangerous violation of international law&quot; which had no legal impact.

Safadi said the ministers would recommend a series of moves to a full ministerial meeting of the Arab League due later this month.&nbsp;

&quot;We will confront the decision by seeking a (UN) resolution, an international one, to recognise a Palestinian state on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital,&quot; said Safadi.

He did not elaborate on the timing of the diplomatic moves nor say whether he was referring to a UN&nbsp;Security Council or General Assembly resolution.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the ministerial meeting would also discuss Washington&#39;s role in future Arab-Israeli peacemaking that members states said was now jeopardised by what they see as US&nbsp;bias towards Israel.

&quot;We want to lessen any losses on the Palestinian side and lessen the Israeli gains,&quot; Aboul Gheit added.

Arab states would also discuss whether to convene an extraordinary summit of their leaders or wait until a scheduled summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh at the end of March, he added.&nbsp;

Trump&rsquo;s recognition of Jerusalem has infuriated the Arab world and upset Western allies, who say it is a blow to peace efforts and risks sparking more violence in the region.

Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal and indivisible capital.

Most countries consider East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after capturing it from Jordan in a 1967 war, to be occupied territory, and say the status of the city should be decided at future Israeli-Palestinian talks.

On December 18, the United States blocked a United Nations Security Council call for Trump&#39;s declaration on Jerusalem to be withdrawn.

Three days later, more than 120 countries defied Trump and voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.

In 2012, the UN&nbsp;General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in a resolution that said the status of Jerusalem should be resolved through negotiations.&nbsp;

Arab states will persuade the United Nations to recognise Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war

Arab states will soon embark on a diplomatic drive to persuade the United Nations to recognise a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. Six Arab foreign ministers met in Amman on Saturday to follow up on earlier decisions taken by the Arab League to counter US President Donald Trump's move in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a decision that overturned decades of US policy on the Middle East. A committee made up of Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinians and headed by Jordan was set up after an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Cairo shortly after Trump's decision that called on Washington to abandon its decision. The Arab League said at the time the move would spur violence throughout the region and described Trump's announcement as a "dangerous violation of international law" which had no legal impact. Safadi said the ministers would recommend a series of moves to a full ministerial meeting of the Arab League due later this month. "We will confront the decision by seeking a (UN) resolution, an international one, to recognise a Palestinian state on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital," said Safadi. He did not elaborate on the timing of the diplomatic moves nor say whether he was referring to a UN Security Council or General Assembly resolution. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the ministerial meeting would also discuss Washington's role in future Arab-Israeli peacemaking that members states said was now jeopardised by what they see as US bias towards Israel. "We want to lessen any losses on the Palestinian side and lessen the Israeli gains," Aboul Gheit added. Arab states would also discuss whether to convene an extraordinary summit of their leaders or wait until a scheduled summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh at the end of March, he added. Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem has infuriated the Arab world and upset Western allies, who say it is a blow to peace efforts and risks sparking more violence in the region. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal and indivisible capital. Most countries consider East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after capturing it from Jordan in a 1967 war, to be occupied territory, and say the status of the city should be decided at future Israeli-Palestinian talks. On December 18, the United States blocked a United Nations Security Council call for Trump's declaration on Jerusalem to be withdrawn. Three days later, more than 120 countries defied Trump and voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. In 2012, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in a resolution that said the status of Jerusalem should be resolved through negotiations.

Arab League to lobby UN to recognise Palestinian state

At the British embassy in Jordan, a former rescue cat is settling into his new position as chief mouser - as a traditional well established in the ministries of London goes global.

&quot;Lawrence of Abdoun&quot;&nbsp;is a fluffy black-and-white tom who, according to his Twitter feed, reports directly to the Foreign Office&rsquo;s Palmerston, a cat that delights his 57,000 followers with regular updates from the ministry in Whitehall via @DiploMog.

Lawrence, named after TE&nbsp;Lawrence, a British military officer who fought alongside Arabs against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, has already gained 2,500 followers since being adopted from an animal shelter last month.

Abdoun is the neighbourhood of Amman where the embassy is located.

&quot;Apart from his mousing duties, he reaches out to followers on Twitter. What&rsquo;s quite interesting is the British public are seeing the UK embassy in Jordan in a different light,&quot;&nbsp;said Deputy Ambassador Laura Dauban.&nbsp;

&rdquo;Through Lawrence&rsquo;s Twitter account we&rsquo;re trying to show a different side to Jordan, what it is really like, a peaceful, prosperous country that British tourists should come and visit.&rdquo;

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Understanding the country is vital for any ambassadorial <a href="https://twitter.com/DiploMog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@diplomog</a>, but also for visitors! Have you subscribed to my team&rsquo;s travel advice for Jordan? <a href="https://t.co/Aaxo18Y7Uv">https://t.co/Aaxo18Y7Uv</a> <a href="https://t.co/RYXSKHYT81">pic.twitter.com/RYXSKHYT81</a>
&mdash; Lawrence of Abdoun (@LawrenceDipCat) <a href="https://twitter.com/LawrenceDipCat/status/931542050654380038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Tweeting under the name @LawrenceDipCat, Lawrence has discovered the perils of social media, and has even been fat-shamed by trolls.

&quot;He&rsquo;s been a bit upset because some people have said he looked a bit fat in the last tweet he did, so he&rsquo;ll be doing some exercises and posting to sort of rectify that situation,&quot;&nbsp;Dauban said.&nbsp;

'Lawrence of Abdoun' is a fluffy black-and-white tom who, according to his Twitter feed, reports directly to the Foreign Office?s Palmerston, a cat with 57,000 Twitter followers

At the British embassy in Jordan, a former rescue cat is settling into his new position as chief mouser - as a traditional well established in the ministries of London goes global. "Lawrence of Abdoun" is a fluffy black-and-white tom who, according to his Twitter feed, reports directly to the Foreign Office’s Palmerston, a cat that delights his 57,000 followers with regular updates from the ministry in Whitehall via @DiploMog. Lawrence, named after TE Lawrence, a British military officer who fought alongside Arabs against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, has already gained 2,500 followers since being adopted from an animal shelter last month. Abdoun is the neighbourhood of Amman where the embassy is located. "Apart from his mousing duties, he reaches out to followers on Twitter. What’s quite interesting is the British public are seeing the UK embassy in Jordan in a different light," said Deputy Ambassador Laura Dauban. ”Through Lawrence’s Twitter account we’re trying to show a different side to Jordan, what it is really like, a peaceful, prosperous country that British tourists should come and visit.” Understanding the country is vital for any ambassadorial @diplomog, but also for visitors! Have you subscribed to my team’s travel advice for Jordan? https://t.co/Aaxo18Y7Uv pic.twitter.com/RYXSKHYT81 — Lawrence of Abdoun (@LawrenceDipCat) November 17, 2017 × Tweeting under the name @LawrenceDipCat, Lawrence has discovered the perils of social media, and has even been fat-shamed by trolls. "He’s been a bit upset because some people have said he looked a bit fat in the last tweet he did, so he’ll be doing some exercises and posting to sort of rectify that situation," Dauban said.

British embassy cat in Jordan appointed chief mouser

A video of a political analyst giving a Skype interview to a news channel without any pants on is breaking the internet.&nbsp;

Majid Asfour, a Jordanian political analyst, was being interviewed by Al-Jazeera last month on the Israeli embassy shooting in Amman, the Independent newspaper reported.&nbsp;

The video shows Asfour wearing only a jacket and a tie, with his laptop placed on his lap on two pillows to make sure the rest of his body is not visible. &nbsp;

Al-Jazeera news network obviously did not broadcast this video, only Asfour&#39;s torso was visible on air. This video was taken while he was giving the interview.

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?? ???? ... 
???? ???? ??????? ?? ????? &quot;??????? ?????????&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JPcTQyekmd">pic.twitter.com/JPcTQyekmd</a>
&mdash; ???? ?????? ?? (@NET_AD) <a href="https://twitter.com/NET_AD/status/890134206361337856">July 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&ldquo;The temperature in Amman was above 30C and I was at home, so I decided to wear a jacket, a shirt and go on air like this,&rdquo; Asfour told the Jordan Times after the video went viral.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/life-fun/watch-adorable-kids-crash-live-bbc-interview-13276">Also watch:&nbsp;Adorable kids crash live BBC interview</a>

Majid Asfour is a Jordanian political expert. Al Jazeera was interviewing him over Skype

A video of a political analyst giving a Skype interview to a news channel without any pants on is breaking the internet. Majid Asfour, a Jordanian political analyst, was being interviewed by Al-Jazeera last month on the Israeli embassy shooting in Amman, the Independent newspaper reported. The video shows Asfour wearing only a jacket and a tie, with his laptop placed on his lap on two pillows to make sure the rest of his body is not visible. Al-Jazeera news network obviously did not broadcast this video, only Asfour's torso was visible on air. This video was taken while he was giving the interview. ?? ???? ... ???? ???? ??????? ?? ????? "??????? ?????????" pic.twitter.com/JPcTQyekmd — ???? ?????? ?? (@NET_AD) July 26, 2017 × “The temperature in Amman was above 30C and I was at home, so I decided to wear a jacket, a shirt and go on air like this,” Asfour told the Jordan Times after the video went viral. Also watch: Adorable kids crash live BBC interview

WATCH: Analyst gives interview to Al Jazeera without pants, video goes viral

Nisrin Akoubeh checks the oil and water before getting into her taxi and pulling into Amman&#39;s heavy traffic for another day of shuttling fellow women across the Jordanian capital.

The red-haired mother of three works a gruelling 10-hour shift in her taxi -- a rare occupation for a woman in this conservative Muslim society.

&quot;I want to break the culture of shame and prove to Arabs and the Arab world that women are strong and are able to work in any area that could be monopolised by men,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

&quot;Women have been able to drive normal cars for a long time, so why shouldn&#39;t they drive taxis?&quot;

Akoubeh is one of a group of women who want to turn taxi driving into an acceptable profession for women, challenging Jordan&#39;s social norms.

The 31-year-old widow and former nurse drives one of a fleet of 10 &quot;Pink Taxis&quot; driven by women ... for women passengers.

Most of their customers are nurses on late shifts, university students or mothers whose children they shuttle to and from nursery or school.

Wearing a pink shirt and blue tie as she navigates Amman&#39;s congested roads, Akoubeh often also picks up visiting Saudi women whose husbands don&#39;t allow them to ride unaccompanied with male taxi drivers.

&quot;I thank God that I have lots of customers,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

Ghena al-Asmar, a 19-year-old student who often uses the service, said she feels safer riding the women-only cars.

&quot;When I finish my studies at university in the evening or when I leave the house at night, I prefer to take these taxis because it&#39;s a woman taking a woman somewhere,&quot; she said.

&quot;I don&#39;t think there&#39;s any shame in a woman working as a taxi driver -- it&#39;s a profession like any other profession, and it shouldn&#39;t be limited to men,&quot; she said.

Around half a million women in Jordan have driving licences, about 20 percent of the country&#39;s total drivers, according to the national traffic department.

Seen in a bad light

Akoubeh said some people give her encouragement but &quot;there is always someone to remind me that &#39;this is men&#39;s work and you should be in the home.&#39;&quot;

Jordan is relatively liberal in terms of women&#39;s rights compared to other countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia which does not allow women behind the wheel at all.&nbsp;

But more conservative attitudes are still common.

Mohammad al-Ahmad, a 50-year-old civil servant, said driving a taxi is not appropriate work for women.

&quot;We live in a conservative Eastern society governed by tribal customs and traditions,&quot; he said.

&quot;There are lots of jobs and professions women can do that fit their abilities and preserve their place in society, without them being seen in a bad light.&quot;

But Eid Abu al-Haj, head of an investment group behind a company that runs the Pink Taxi service, says encouraging women to drive is a service to society.

&quot;Women are more careful and cause fewer accidents,&quot; he said. &quot;By providing these cars exclusively for women, we are hoping to give women more comfort and privacy.&quot;&nbsp;

The service was launched on March 21, when most of the Arab world marks Mother&#39;s Day.

&quot;We started with five cars just for women, with women drivers, and now we have 10 drivers, between 30 and 45 years old, and we&#39;re hoping to expand soon,&quot; said Abu al-Haj.

The concept has already been tried and tested in Cairo, another conservative city where women taxi drivers were previously unheard of.

Akoubeh said she has a good salary, health insurance, social security and holidays, and she can choose what hours to work.

Other taxi drivers in Amman say they take home at most 25 dinars ($35, 33 euros) a day after paying a share of their takings to the companies that own the cars.

Driving in Amman is not easy work. Home to four million people and 1.4 million vehicles including over 11,000 taxis, the city is prone to choking congestion.&nbsp;

&quot;It takes a lot of concentration and care, especially during rush hours,&quot; Akoubeh said.&nbsp;

But she enjoys the work.

&quot;I get to know new people every day,&quot; she said. &quot;I enjoy my conversations with them and hearing their stories and experiences.&quot;

(AFP)

It is a rare occupation for women in a conservative socieity

Nisrin Akoubeh checks the oil and water before getting into her taxi and pulling into Amman's heavy traffic for another day of shuttling fellow women across the Jordanian capital. The red-haired mother of three works a gruelling 10-hour shift in her taxi -- a rare occupation for a woman in this conservative Muslim society. "I want to break the culture of shame and prove to Arabs and the Arab world that women are strong and are able to work in any area that could be monopolised by men," she said. "Women have been able to drive normal cars for a long time, so why shouldn't they drive taxis?" Akoubeh is one of a group of women who want to turn taxi driving into an acceptable profession for women, challenging Jordan's social norms. The 31-year-old widow and former nurse drives one of a fleet of 10 "Pink Taxis" driven by women ... for women passengers. Most of their customers are nurses on late shifts, university students or mothers whose children they shuttle to and from nursery or school. Wearing a pink shirt and blue tie as she navigates Amman's congested roads, Akoubeh often also picks up visiting Saudi women whose husbands don't allow them to ride unaccompanied with male taxi drivers. "I thank God that I have lots of customers," she said. Ghena al-Asmar, a 19-year-old student who often uses the service, said she feels safer riding the women-only cars. "When I finish my studies at university in the evening or when I leave the house at night, I prefer to take these taxis because it's a woman taking a woman somewhere," she said. "I don't think there's any shame in a woman working as a taxi driver -- it's a profession like any other profession, and it shouldn't be limited to men," she said. Around half a million women in Jordan have driving licences, about 20 percent of the country's total drivers, according to the national traffic department. Seen in a bad light Akoubeh said some people give her encouragement but "there is always someone to remind me that 'this is men's work and you should be in the home.'" Jordan is relatively liberal in terms of women's rights compared to other countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia which does not allow women behind the wheel at all. But more conservative attitudes are still common. Mohammad al-Ahmad, a 50-year-old civil servant, said driving a taxi is not appropriate work for women. "We live in a conservative Eastern society governed by tribal customs and traditions," he said. "There are lots of jobs and professions women can do that fit their abilities and preserve their place in society, without them being seen in a bad light." But Eid Abu al-Haj, head of an investment group behind a company that runs the Pink Taxi service, says encouraging women to drive is a service to society. "Women are more careful and cause fewer accidents," he said. "By providing these cars exclusively for women, we are hoping to give women more comfort and privacy." The service was launched on March 21, when most of the Arab world marks Mother's Day. "We started with five cars just for women, with women drivers, and now we have 10 drivers, between 30 and 45 years old, and we're hoping to expand soon," said Abu al-Haj. The concept has already been tried and tested in Cairo, another conservative city where women taxi drivers were previously unheard of. Akoubeh said she has a good salary, health insurance, social security and holidays, and she can choose what hours to work. Other taxi drivers in Amman say they take home at most 25 dinars ($35, 33 euros) a day after paying a share of their takings to the companies that own the cars. Driving in Amman is not easy work. Home to four million people and 1.4 million vehicles including over 11,000 taxis, the city is prone to choking congestion. "It takes a lot of concentration and care, especially during rush hours," Akoubeh said. But she enjoys the work. "I get to know new people every day," she said. "I enjoy my conversations with them and hearing their stories and experiences." (AFP)

Women at wheel of 'pink taxis' challenge Jordan norms

Three US military trainers were shot dead in Jordan on Friday when their car failed to stop at the gate of a military base and was fired on by Jordanian security forces, a Jordanian military source said.

The incident occurred at the Prince Faisal air base in the south of Jordan, which is a close strategic ally of the United States. Two trainers died immediately and the third later in hospital. A Jordanian army guard was also shot and wounded.

&quot;There was an exchange of fire at the entrance to the base after an attempt by the trainers&#39; vehicle to enter the gate without heeding orders of the guards to stop,&quot; the military source said. &quot;An investigation is now under way to know exactly what happened.&quot;

Another Jordanian security source said it was not possible to rule out political motives in the incident at an air base, where dozens of US trainers work alongside Jordanians.

A third Jordanian source who requested anonymity said authorities were examining reports of friction among the US trainers and Jordanian army officers that might offer clues helping to explain the shooting. He did not elaborate.

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The base where the incident occurred is in the heart of the traditional Bedouin region of Jordan where radical Sunni Muslim influence has grown over the last decade.

Several incidents over the past year have jolted the Arab kingdom, which has been relatively unscathed by the uprisings, civil wars and Islamist militancy that have swept the Middle East since 2011.

In November 2015, a Jordanian army officer shot dead two US government security contractors and a South African at a US-funded police training facility near Amman before being gunned down.

The incident embarrassed Jordanian authorities, who did not publicly disclose the motive of the assassin. The gunman was later said by security sources to have been a sympathiser of the Islamic State militant group with strong anti-Western feelings.

Worrying incident

&quot;What is worrying is that if this (Friday&#39;s shooting) turns out to be deliberate it would be much more damaging than if this was a suicide or terror attack on a base because it was perpetrated by someone within the Jordanian military,&quot; another security source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters they were reviewing the incident and could not rule out the possibility of a deliberate attack. One said there were Americans in the convoy who were unharmed in the incident.

The White House said on Friday that it would work with Jordan to determine the circumstances around the shooting.

&quot;We will certainly want to draw on the kind of cooperation that the US has with Jordan to get to the bottom of what exactly happened,&quot; White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters during a briefing.

Many ordinary Jordanians harbour strong anti-American sentiment over Washington&#39;s strong support for Israel and its military interventions in the Middle East.

Jordan is among a few Arab states that have taken part in a US-led air campaign against Islamic State (IS) militants holding territory in Syria. But many Jordanians oppose their country&#39;s involvement, saying it has caused violent deaths of fellow Muslims and raised security threats inside Jordan.

Officials worry about radical Islam&#39;s growing profile in Jordan and support in impoverished areas for militant groups.

Apart from the fatal shooting carried out by the Jordanian army officer a year ago, six Jordanian border guards were killed in June by an IS suicide bomber who drove a car at speed across the border from Syria and rammed it into a U.S.-funded military post.

Jordan hosts several hundred US contractors in a military cooperation programme which includes the stationing of US F-16 fighter jets that use Jordanian airfields to hit Islamic State positions in neighbouring Syria.

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Washington has spent millions of dollars to help Jordan set up an elaborate surveillance system known as the Border Security Programme to stem infiltration by militants from Syria and Iraq.

US officials say that aid to Jordan, one of the largest recipients of US foreign military assistance, is expected to rise to $800 million in 2016 and grow in future years.

(Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

Their car failed to stop at a military base and was fired on by security forces

Three US military trainers were shot dead in Jordan on Friday when their car failed to stop at the gate of a military base and was fired on by Jordanian security forces, a Jordanian military source said. The incident occurred at the Prince Faisal air base in the south of Jordan, which is a close strategic ally of the United States. Two trainers died immediately and the third later in hospital. A Jordanian army guard was also shot and wounded. "There was an exchange of fire at the entrance to the base after an attempt by the trainers' vehicle to enter the gate without heeding orders of the guards to stop," the military source said. "An investigation is now under way to know exactly what happened." Another Jordanian security source said it was not possible to rule out political motives in the incident at an air base, where dozens of US trainers work alongside Jordanians. A third Jordanian source who requested anonymity said authorities were examining reports of friction among the US trainers and Jordanian army officers that might offer clues helping to explain the shooting. He did not elaborate. A third Jordanian source who requested anonymity said authorities were examining reports of friction among the US trainers and Jordanian army officers that might offer clues helping to explain the shooting × The base where the incident occurred is in the heart of the traditional Bedouin region of Jordan where radical Sunni Muslim influence has grown over the last decade. Several incidents over the past year have jolted the Arab kingdom, which has been relatively unscathed by the uprisings, civil wars and Islamist militancy that have swept the Middle East since 2011. In November 2015, a Jordanian army officer shot dead two US government security contractors and a South African at a US-funded police training facility near Amman before being gunned down. The incident embarrassed Jordanian authorities, who did not publicly disclose the motive of the assassin. The gunman was later said by security sources to have been a sympathiser of the Islamic State militant group with strong anti-Western feelings. Worrying incident "What is worrying is that if this (Friday's shooting) turns out to be deliberate it would be much more damaging than if this was a suicide or terror attack on a base because it was perpetrated by someone within the Jordanian military," another security source told Reuters on condition of anonymity. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters they were reviewing the incident and could not rule out the possibility of a deliberate attack. One said there were Americans in the convoy who were unharmed in the incident. The White House said on Friday that it would work with Jordan to determine the circumstances around the shooting. "We will certainly want to draw on the kind of cooperation that the US has with Jordan to get to the bottom of what exactly happened," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters during a briefing. Many ordinary Jordanians harbour strong anti-American sentiment over Washington's strong support for Israel and its military interventions in the Middle East. Jordan is among a few Arab states that have taken part in a US-led air campaign against Islamic State (IS) militants holding territory in Syria. But many Jordanians oppose their country's involvement, saying it has caused violent deaths of fellow Muslims and raised security threats inside Jordan. Officials worry about radical Islam's growing profile in Jordan and support in impoverished areas for militant groups. Apart from the fatal shooting carried out by the Jordanian army officer a year ago, six Jordanian border guards were killed in June by an IS suicide bomber who drove a car at speed across the border from Syria and rammed it into a U.S.-funded military post. Jordan hosts several hundred US contractors in a military cooperation programme which includes the stationing of US F-16 fighter jets that use Jordanian airfields to hit Islamic State positions in neighbouring Syria. Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Washington has spent millions of dollars to help Jordan set up an elaborate surveillance system known as the Border Security Programme to stem infiltration by militants from Syria and Iraq. US officials say that aid to Jordan, one of the largest recipients of US foreign military assistance, is expected to rise to $800 million in 2016 and grow in future years. (Reuters)

Jordanian forces shoot dead 3 US military trainers

Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar was shot today minutes before he was to appear in court in Amman&#39;s Abdali district&nbsp;for his trial on charges of contempt of religion. 
 
Witnesses said three shots were fired at Hattar before the assailant was arrested. 
 
Hattar had shared on social media a caricature that was seen as &quot;insulting God and Islam&quot; by depicting a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women. 
 
A prominent activist and supporter of Syrian President Bashar al Assad,&nbsp;the 56-year-old was arrested soon after on August 13. 
 
A number of conservative Muslim Jordanians had taken&nbsp;offence to the picture. 
 
Hattar had said that he did not intend to cause offence to Muslims and wanted the cartoon to &quot;expose&quot; the Islamic State. He was also reported as saying that &quot;as a non-believer&quot; he respected &quot;the believers who did not understand the satire behind the cartoon&quot;. 
 
Jordan is part of the US-lead coalition fighting the Islamic State. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Hattar had shared a caricature depicting a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women and asking god to get him wine

Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar was shot today minutes before he was to appear in court in Amman's Abdali district for his trial on charges of contempt of religion. Witnesses said three shots were fired at Hattar before the assailant was arrested. Hattar had shared on social media a caricature that was seen as "insulting God and Islam" by depicting a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women. A prominent activist and supporter of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, the 56-year-old was arrested soon after on August 13. A number of conservative Muslim Jordanians had taken offence to the picture. Hattar had said that he did not intend to cause offence to Muslims and wanted the cartoon to "expose" the Islamic State. He was also reported as saying that "as a non-believer" he respected "the believers who did not understand the satire behind the cartoon". Jordan is part of the US-lead coalition fighting the Islamic State. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Jordanian writer shot dead outside court before trial over cartoon

Weapons shipped into Jordan for Syrian rebels by the Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia were stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and sold to arms merchants on the black market, the New York Times reported, citing American and Jordanian officials.

Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others at a police training facility in Amman, according to a joint investigation by the New York Times and Al Jazeera. (http://nyti.ms/292MmdH)

A Jordanian officer shot dead two US&nbsp;government security contractors, a South African trainer and two Jordanians at a US-funded police training facility near Amman before being killed in a shootout, Jordanian authorities had said in November.

The training facility was set up on the outskirts of the capital, Amman, after the 2003 US&nbsp;invasion of Iraq to help rebuild the shattered country&#39;s postwar security forces and to train Palestinian Authority police officers.

The weapons used in the shooting had originally arrived in Jordan for the Syrian rebel training program, the paper reported, citing American and Jordanian officials.

Theft of the weapons, which ended months ago after complaints by the American and Saudi governments, has led to a flood of new weapons available on the arms black market, the New York Times said.

Jordanian officers who were part of the plan &quot;reaped a windfall&quot; from sale of weapons, using the money to buy iPhones, SUVs and other luxury items, according to the paper, which cited Jordanian officials.

The&nbsp;CIA&nbsp;could not be immediately reached for comment. 
 
(Reuters)

Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others in Amman

Weapons shipped into Jordan for Syrian rebels by the Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia were stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and sold to arms merchants on the black market, the New York Times reported, citing American and Jordanian officials. Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others at a police training facility in Amman, according to a joint investigation by the New York Times and Al Jazeera. (http://nyti.ms/292MmdH) A Jordanian officer shot dead two US government security contractors, a South African trainer and two Jordanians at a US-funded police training facility near Amman before being killed in a shootout, Jordanian authorities had said in November. The training facility was set up on the outskirts of the capital, Amman, after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq to help rebuild the shattered country's postwar security forces and to train Palestinian Authority police officers. The weapons used in the shooting had originally arrived in Jordan for the Syrian rebel training program, the paper reported, citing American and Jordanian officials. Theft of the weapons, which ended months ago after complaints by the American and Saudi governments, has led to a flood of new weapons available on the arms black market, the New York Times said. Jordanian officers who were part of the plan "reaped a windfall" from sale of weapons, using the money to buy iPhones, SUVs and other luxury items, according to the paper, which cited Jordanian officials. The CIA could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reuters)

CIA weapons for Syrian rebels stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives, sold on black market

Six Jordanian border guards were killed by a suicide bomber who drove a car at a high speed across the border from Syria and rammed it into a military post on Tuesday, security officials said. 
 
The explosives-laden vehicle blew up a few hundred metres from a camp for Syrian refugees in a remote, desolate area where the borders of Iraq, Syria and Jordan meet, a Jordanian army statement said. 
 
The southeastern desert area is close to where Islamic State militants are known to operate, according to a security source who requested anonymity. The source said the attack appeared to be a well-planned military operation. No group has claimed responsibility. 
 
The army said a number of other vehicles used in the attack at around 5:30 am (0230 GMT) were destroyed and that 14 other people were wounded. The suicide bomber drove out from behind a berm and dodged gunfire to reach the military post, it added. 
 
It was the first such assault targeting Jordan from Syria since Syria&#39;s descent into conflict in 2011, and followed an attack on June 6 on a security office near the Jordanian capital Amman in which five people, including three Jordanian intelligence officers, were killed. 
 
The incidents have jolted the Arab kingdom, which has been relatively unscathed by the instability that has swept the Arab world since 2011, including the expansion of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. 
 
In a rare move, the Jordanian army&#39;s chief of staff declared the northern and northeastern border strip with Syria a closed military zone, an order that went into effect immediately. 
 
&quot;Any vehicle and personnel movement within these areas that move without prior coordination will be treated as enemy targets and dealt with firmly and without leniency,&quot; the army statement said. 
 
International relief workers said the Jordanian authorities had also suspended all humanitarian aid to the area and that this could put the lives of refugees at risk. 
 
UN agencies responsible for the well-being of thousands of refugees did not comment on the drastic move which Western aid workers said penalized thousands of refugees, almost half of them women and children who have been stranded on the border strip for months. 
 
Jordan&#39;s foreign minister Nasser Joudeh confirmed deliveries of aid to the border areas had been halted until a safer area was found. 
 
He told state media the incident vindicated Amman&#39;s previous security warnings about the presence of hardline extremists within the camp. 
 
&quot;There is a large concentration of people along this border and a big infiltration of elements from Daesh terrorists who are present heavily,&quot; Joudeh said, using the Arabic derogatory term for Islamic State. 
 
Jordan&#39;s King Abdullah said the perpetrators would not go unpunished and that his security forces would deal with &quot;an iron fist&quot; with any group that sought to harm the country&#39;s security or borders, a palace statement said. 
 
Jordan is a staunch ally of the United States and is taking part in the US-led campaign against Islamic State in Syria, where the jihadist group still controls large areas of territory including much of the east. 
 
Jordan has kept tight control of its frontier with Syria since the outbreak of the war in its neighbour. 
 
Washington condemned the deadly attack as a &quot;cowardly terrorist act&quot; and said it would continue &quot;unwavering support&quot; for the Jordanian army, a statement from the US embassy said. 
 
Since the Syria conflict began, Washington has spent tens of millions of dollars to help Amman set up an elaborate surveillance system known as the Border Security Programme to stem infiltration by militants from Syria and Iraq. 
 
The Rakban crossing targeted on Tuesday is a military zone far from any inhabited area, and includes a three-kilometre (two-mile) stretch of berms built a decade ago to combat smuggling. The border is heavily guarded by patrols and drones. 
 
US Patriot missiles are stationed in the kingdom, however, and the US army has hundreds of trainers in the country. 
 
It is the only area where Jordan still receives Syrian refugees, some 50,000 of whom are stranded in Rakban refugee camp in a de facto no-man&#39;s land some 330 kilometres (200 miles) northeast of Amman. 
 
REFUGEES STRAIN KINGDOM 
 
The camp&#39;s population has grown from several thousand to over 50,000 people since last year as the fighting in Syria intensified, relief workers say. 
 
Jordan has been a big beneficiary of foreign aid because of its efforts to help refugees, but has drawn criticism from Western allies and aid agencies over the humanitarian situation at Rakban where conditions have caused several deaths among refugeees lacking sufficient medical care, diplomats say. 
 
Earlier waves of Syrian refugees had an easier time, with some walking just a few hundred metres to cross into Jordan. Jordan sealed those border crossings in 2013. 
 
The United Nations refugee agency said late last year Jordan should accept the new wave of refugees -- their numbers have risen, aid officials say, since Russia started air strikes last September -- and move them to established camps closer to Amman. 
 
Jordan, which has already accepted more than 600,000 UN-registered Syrian refugees, is resisting. It says IS militants may have infiltrated their ranks as most of them come from Islamic State-held areas in central and eastern Syria, and has allowed only a trickle of refugees, mostly women and children, in recent months. 
 
(Reuters)

The incidents have jolted the Arab kingdom, which has been relatively unscathed by the instability that has swept the Arab world since 2011

Six Jordanian border guards were killed by a suicide bomber who drove a car at a high speed across the border from Syria and rammed it into a military post on Tuesday, security officials said. The explosives-laden vehicle blew up a few hundred metres from a camp for Syrian refugees in a remote, desolate area where the borders of Iraq, Syria and Jordan meet, a Jordanian army statement said. The southeastern desert area is close to where Islamic State militants are known to operate, according to a security source who requested anonymity. The source said the attack appeared to be a well-planned military operation. No group has claimed responsibility. The army said a number of other vehicles used in the attack at around 5:30 am (0230 GMT) were destroyed and that 14 other people were wounded. The suicide bomber drove out from behind a berm and dodged gunfire to reach the military post, it added. It was the first such assault targeting Jordan from Syria since Syria's descent into conflict in 2011, and followed an attack on June 6 on a security office near the Jordanian capital Amman in which five people, including three Jordanian intelligence officers, were killed. The incidents have jolted the Arab kingdom, which has been relatively unscathed by the instability that has swept the Arab world since 2011, including the expansion of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. In a rare move, the Jordanian army's chief of staff declared the northern and northeastern border strip with Syria a closed military zone, an order that went into effect immediately. "Any vehicle and personnel movement within these areas that move without prior coordination will be treated as enemy targets and dealt with firmly and without leniency," the army statement said. International relief workers said the Jordanian authorities had also suspended all humanitarian aid to the area and that this could put the lives of refugees at risk. UN agencies responsible for the well-being of thousands of refugees did not comment on the drastic move which Western aid workers said penalized thousands of refugees, almost half of them women and children who have been stranded on the border strip for months. Jordan's foreign minister Nasser Joudeh confirmed deliveries of aid to the border areas had been halted until a safer area was found. He told state media the incident vindicated Amman's previous security warnings about the presence of hardline extremists within the camp. "There is a large concentration of people along this border and a big infiltration of elements from Daesh terrorists who are present heavily," Joudeh said, using the Arabic derogatory term for Islamic State. Jordan's King Abdullah said the perpetrators would not go unpunished and that his security forces would deal with "an iron fist" with any group that sought to harm the country's security or borders, a palace statement said. Jordan is a staunch ally of the United States and is taking part in the US-led campaign against Islamic State in Syria, where the jihadist group still controls large areas of territory including much of the east. Jordan has kept tight control of its frontier with Syria since the outbreak of the war in its neighbour. Washington condemned the deadly attack as a "cowardly terrorist act" and said it would continue "unwavering support" for the Jordanian army, a statement from the US embassy said. Since the Syria conflict began, Washington has spent tens of millions of dollars to help Amman set up an elaborate surveillance system known as the Border Security Programme to stem infiltration by militants from Syria and Iraq. The Rakban crossing targeted on Tuesday is a military zone far from any inhabited area, and includes a three-kilometre (two-mile) stretch of berms built a decade ago to combat smuggling. The border is heavily guarded by patrols and drones. US Patriot missiles are stationed in the kingdom, however, and the US army has hundreds of trainers in the country. It is the only area where Jordan still receives Syrian refugees, some 50,000 of whom are stranded in Rakban refugee camp in a de facto no-man's land some 330 kilometres (200 miles) northeast of Amman. REFUGEES STRAIN KINGDOM The camp's population has grown from several thousand to over 50,000 people since last year as the fighting in Syria intensified, relief workers say. Jordan has been a big beneficiary of foreign aid because of its efforts to help refugees, but has drawn criticism from Western allies and aid agencies over the humanitarian situation at Rakban where conditions have caused several deaths among refugeees lacking sufficient medical care, diplomats say. Earlier waves of Syrian refugees had an easier time, with some walking just a few hundred metres to cross into Jordan. Jordan sealed those border crossings in 2013. The United Nations refugee agency said late last year Jordan should accept the new wave of refugees -- their numbers have risen, aid officials say, since Russia started air strikes last September -- and move them to established camps closer to Amman. Jordan, which has already accepted more than 600,000 UN-registered Syrian refugees, is resisting. It says IS militants may have infiltrated their ranks as most of them come from Islamic State-held areas in central and eastern Syria, and has allowed only a trickle of refugees, mostly women and children, in recent months. (Reuters)

Islamic State suicide attacker kills 6 Jordanian troops, injures 14 others at Syria border

Pakistan is considering buying used F-16 fighter jets from Jordan, media reported today, after a plan to buy eight of the aircraft from the United States fell through because of the refusal of the US Congress to finance the deal. 
 
Some of Pakistan&#39;s fleet of F-16 jets are due to be decommissioned in the next few years and the government says it needs the aircraft to fight Islamist militants in remote mountains near Afghanistan. 
 
The military also sees the aircraft as vital in case of war against old rival India. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947. 
 
&quot;We are now going for a third-party transfer of F-16s and have an offer from Jordan,&quot; defence secretary Alam Khattak told a joint sitting of the senate defence and foreign affairs committees on Monday, newspapers reported. 
 
An air force spokesman declined to say how many F-16s Pakistan has but the number of the aircraft in service is believed to be about 70. 
 
Jordan had offered to sell Pakistan 16 used F-16s of the Block-30 variant, an older version than the Block-52s that Pakistan would have obtained from the United States, the Dawn newspaper reported. 
 
The US deal, valued at $699 million, came unstuck after the US Congress refused to authorise the use of government funds to pay for the aircraft under the foreign military financing (FMF) programme. 
 
Members of the US Congress, led by Republican Chairman of the senate foreign relations committee Bob Corker, demanded that Pakistan stop harbouring militant groups like the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network, which are leading an insurgency against a US-backed government in Kabul. 
 
Pakistan says it is acting against the militants, citing military operations in lawless ethnic Pashtun lands that border Afghanistan. 
 
Pakistan says the F-16s, with their precision strike ability and night-flying capability, are essential for that fight. 
 
The difficulty over the F-16 deal was the latest sign of increasingly frayed ties between Pakistan and the United States. 
 
Last month, a US drone killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the then chief of the Afghan Taliban, on Pakistani soil. 
 
Pakistan condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty, and as not being conducive towards encouraging the Taliban to enter talks with the Afghan government. 
 
Pakistan has bought Jordanian F-16s before, procuring 13 of them in 2014, Dawn reported. The current batch on offer were manufactured between 1988 and 1990, and were upgraded in 2001/02, Dawn said.

You'll get the jets when you stop harbouring militant groups like the Afghan Taliban, said the US

Pakistan is considering buying used F-16 fighter jets from Jordan, media reported today, after a plan to buy eight of the aircraft from the United States fell through because of the refusal of the US Congress to finance the deal. Some of Pakistan's fleet of F-16 jets are due to be decommissioned in the next few years and the government says it needs the aircraft to fight Islamist militants in remote mountains near Afghanistan. The military also sees the aircraft as vital in case of war against old rival India. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947. "We are now going for a third-party transfer of F-16s and have an offer from Jordan," defence secretary Alam Khattak told a joint sitting of the senate defence and foreign affairs committees on Monday, newspapers reported. An air force spokesman declined to say how many F-16s Pakistan has but the number of the aircraft in service is believed to be about 70. Jordan had offered to sell Pakistan 16 used F-16s of the Block-30 variant, an older version than the Block-52s that Pakistan would have obtained from the United States, the Dawn newspaper reported. The US deal, valued at $699 million, came unstuck after the US Congress refused to authorise the use of government funds to pay for the aircraft under the foreign military financing (FMF) programme. Members of the US Congress, led by Republican Chairman of the senate foreign relations committee Bob Corker, demanded that Pakistan stop harbouring militant groups like the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network, which are leading an insurgency against a US-backed government in Kabul. Pakistan says it is acting against the militants, citing military operations in lawless ethnic Pashtun lands that border Afghanistan. Pakistan says the F-16s, with their precision strike ability and night-flying capability, are essential for that fight. The difficulty over the F-16 deal was the latest sign of increasingly frayed ties between Pakistan and the United States. Last month, a US drone killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the then chief of the Afghan Taliban, on Pakistani soil. Pakistan condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty, and as not being conducive towards encouraging the Taliban to enter talks with the Afghan government. Pakistan has bought Jordanian F-16s before, procuring 13 of them in 2014, Dawn reported. The current batch on offer were manufactured between 1988 and 1990, and were upgraded in 2001/02, Dawn said.

After America says no, Pakistan mulls buying used F-16s from Jordan

Jordanian King Abdullah swore in a new government led by a business-friendly politician on Wednesday, and charged him with preparing for parliamentary elections by September and&nbsp;pushing&nbsp;legislation to spur sluggish growth.

Hani Mulki, 64, who has held a string of senior diplomatic and ministerial posts, is a former chief commissioner of Jordan&#39;s economic zone in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba.

He was appointed by the king on Sunday to replace Abdullah Ensour shortly after the monarch dissolved parliament as it neared the end of its four-year term. Elections must be held within four months under the constitution.

Official sources said the government is expected to maintain traditional support for U.S. policies in the region and continue with IMF-guided reforms.

They say the monarch chose Mulki to help spur investment, especially from main Gulf oil producer Saudi Arabia, which has shown interest in investing in the debt-laden kingdom.

Jordan&#39;s finances have been hit by a drop in Gulf aid which traditionally tops up its coffers and worsened investor confidence hit by regional uncertainty. The economy has also been strained by a flood of refugees from the five-year-old civil war in neighbouring Syria.

The new government is expected to maintain traditional support for US policies in the region and continue IMF-guided reforms.

Jordanian King Abdullah swore in a new government led by a business-friendly politician on Wednesday, and charged him with preparing for parliamentary elections by September and pushing legislation to spur sluggish growth. Hani Mulki, 64, who has held a string of senior diplomatic and ministerial posts, is a former chief commissioner of Jordan's economic zone in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba. He was appointed by the king on Sunday to replace Abdullah Ensour shortly after the monarch dissolved parliament as it neared the end of its four-year term. Elections must be held within four months under the constitution. Official sources said the government is expected to maintain traditional support for U.S. policies in the region and continue with IMF-guided reforms. They say the monarch chose Mulki to help spur investment, especially from main Gulf oil producer Saudi Arabia, which has shown interest in investing in the debt-laden kingdom. Jordan's finances have been hit by a drop in Gulf aid which traditionally tops up its coffers and worsened investor confidence hit by regional uncertainty. The economy has also been strained by a flood of refugees from the five-year-old civil war in neighbouring Syria.

Jordan king swears in new government to prepare for elections

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