"For Ruba Saqr, even the most unconventional dreams can come true," a recent Jordan Times article started off. The newspaper's reporter called me the day after I sent a short announcement saying I just came back from Uzbekistan after representing Jordan at the Sixth International Music Festival of Samarqand. I performed three of my originals the 2nd night of the Festival, and on the 4th night - on August 30, 2007 - I was awarded the UNESCO Prize for Best Performance Bridging Traditional and Contemporary Traditions. I went there as a solo singer/songwriter from Jordan, accompanied by my companion and friend, my black acoustic Fender guitar. It was...

Written by Dr. Marwan Asmar*

The Jordanian government recently decided to exempt inbound tour operators from the 16% General Sales Tax and the decision was met withenthusiasm by tour operators throughout the Kingdom. The issue has beensurrounded by controversy since 2002 when the government re-imposed the salestax on inbound tour operators after previously stating the operators would beexempt.

The Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (JITOA), whichrepresents many of the tour operators who bring tourists to the Kingdom saysthe latest exemption will give a much-needed boost to Jordan’s tourismindustry.

Tour operators say they can now put the sales tax issuebehind and concentrate on developing packages to lure more internationaltourists to the Jordan.

The general sales tax issue  developed into a major controversy between the governmentand tour operators because tour operators were trying to hold off implementingthe sales tax on their packages and at the same time, accruing...

By: Lina Ejeilat  ATV Managing Director Mohannad Al-Khatib resigned from his position yesterday, and Ammon News reported that the channel's owner and Chairman Mohammad Alayyan sold his shares to "Wonders Investment Company", which is owned by Jordanians Mohammad Khaled Asfour and Mohammad Saleh Abdel-Ati. 7iber.com got a copy of Al-Khatib's letter to ATV employees explaining his resignation. Below is a translation: (more...)...

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Picture by: futurowoman

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From Khalaf Yesterday hundreds of people from the town of Mleih, south of Madaba, staged a protest against rising prices, corruption and falling standards of living. It is interesting to note that reports on this do not indicate the involvement of any political party in the organization or staging of this protest. Of course, this is typical. So, what is the head of Jordan’s largest political party involved with these days? Well, he is busy halfheartedly denying saying that "those who live in […] marginalized regions are, with all due respect, people that are less knowledgeable and less educated, culturally and politically, thus they should not be the majority in the parliament." This statement has infuriated many Jordanians, largely because this is not true. Apparently, Bani Irshaid believes that only less knowledgeable people would refrain from voting...

Taste (Chili Ways Menu) Style Vibes Price Parking (parking for 1 JD available during the day) Argeeleh Toilet Usability Staff (more...)

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Goya’s Ghost — Film screening at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts Date: November 17 Time: 6:30pm...

Ramadan Art Festival — A collection of artworks by Jordanian and Arab artists at Lines, contemporary art gallery. Tel: 465 5084 Until October 11. ...

Photos and Words By: Sabri Hakim I'm trapped in a self activating engine that evolves and seeks decay I'm chained in an office looking for chickpeas, I want to wear the skin of animals, grow my beard and carry a cane Allow my climbing of mountains be bare foot, I have reached skies, spoken to clouds and claimed to calm thunder storms (more...)...