Latest from Jordan Times
Jordan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Jordan Times
Kneecap ‘unfazed' by legal problems, says friend and director
PARIS — Irish rappers Kneecap are 'unfazed' by their legal problems and controversies kicked up by their anti-Israel pro-Palestinian statements, friend and film director Rich Peppiatt told AFP. Peppiatt helped create the Kneecap phenomenon with his 2024 semi-fictionalised film about the hip-hop group from Belfast, who are now playing major festivals around the world. The trio made headlines by projecting the words 'F..k Israel, Free Palestine' during their gig at US festival Coachella in April, while lyricist Mo Chara is set to appear in a London court on a terror charge on Wednesday. Chara, whose real name is Liam Og O Hannaidh, is accused of displaying a flag of Lebanon-based and anti-Israel group Hizbollah — a banned organisation — at a gig last year. 'Even through all the controversy at the moment, they just shrug their shoulders and get on with it,' Peppiatt told AFP. 'They are just completely unfazed by anything.' The former journalist first encountered Kneecap in a pub in Belfast in 2019 and was struck by their local fanbase, eventually convincing Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai to appear in the movie about their lives. 'They've always been controversial at a local level, and they've always bounced back from it,' Peppiatt continued. 'The amount of times in the last six years I've heard 'that's the end of Kneecap' because of something they've said or done, and all it's done is propelled them to the next level,' he said. Kneecap started out as an overtly political project, with the group singing in Irish in defence of their language and protesting British rule in Northern Ireland. Their high-energy gigs, prolific drug-taking and the violent undercurrent of Belfast life were captured in Peppiatt's film 'Kneecap', which premiered at the Sundance film festival in 2024 to rave reviews. The dark comedy, music and occasional surrealist digression means it has been frequently compared to 1996 hit 'Trainspotting', which Peppiatt mentions as an influence. Drawing an estimated 6 million people to cinemas worldwide on a budget of just £3 million ($4 million), it was a debut hit for the London-born director. 'You certainly don't make a film about an Irish-language rap band no one's heard of, and who have never released an album, thinking it's going to be a hit,' Peppiatt, who recently obtained Irish nationality through his wife, told AFP. But he says it tapped into larger themes that people identify with, from the loss of local languages to the struggle in many countries against colonial-era influences. 'One useful thing about British colonialism is that when you've taken over a third of the world, if you make a film 50 or 100 years later, and it's all about 'fuck the British', you find an audience for it,' he joked. As for the question of whether his film created Kneecap the band, or whether the band made his film, he said it was a bit of both. 'I felt that they were going to break through. Obviously the film's accelerated that,' he said. Kneecap the film will hit screens in France and South Korea on Wednesday in the final stages of its international release. Kneecap's support for the Palestinian cause and their denunciation of Israel's devastating war in Gaza, Peppiatt said, was in line with Irish public opinion. 'There's always been a very close connection between the Irish cause and the Palestinian cause,' he said. 'Where they're from in West Belfast, there are as many Irish flags as there are Palestinian flags.' But critics see the group as going too far and accuse them of embracing violent extremists. One video of a gig appears to show a band member shouting 'Up Hamas, up Hizbollah'. Another from a 2023 performance, which was also assessed by British police, appears to show one of them urging fans to kill British lawmakers, leading to a public apology to the families of murdered MPs. Kneecap have called on fans to show up outside court on Wednesday in support of Chara and have labelled his prosecution 'political policing'. Peppiatt told AFP he did not always agree with the way the group expressed themselves. 'Where they slipped up for me at Coachella was saying 'fuck Israel', that's a very broad statement to make that incorporated a lot of people who don't believe in what's happening there [in Gaza],' he said. 'When you're friends with people you're allowed to disagree, and I do disagree with them on some things.'
Jordan Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
King delivers Jordan's address at 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference 09 June 2025
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah delivered Jordan's address at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice on Monday. The week-long conference is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, with hundreds of international leaders, officials, and experts attending from around the world, according to a Royal Court statement. In the address, His Majesty said that bodies of water are a vital shared resource, sustaining billions of lives. However, threats such as climate change, pollution, overexploitation and loss of biodiversity directly imperil them, with His Majesty emphasising that this is a critical moment in time for action on behalf of the world's oceans and seas. The King shared how Jordan has embraced science as a tool for transformation, noting that studies indicate that coral reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba are exceptionally resilient in the face of extreme temperatures, which gives hope for their survival and makes them a unique laboratory that can help to save coral reefs around the world. During the speech, His Majesty announced the launch of Jordan's Aqaba Blue Ventures and Global Centre for Ocean Regeneration, which will provide opportunities to test new technologies that can be scaled up for global use, the statement said . Following is the full text of the King's speech: 'In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful Monsieur le Président, President Chavez, Mr. Secretary-General, Your Excellencies, It is a pleasure to join you today. And let me express my deep appreciation to the United Nations, and to the co-hosts, France and Costa Rica. This is a critical moment for action on behalf of the world's oceans and seas. They are a vital shared resource—sustaining billions of lives. Yet threats like climate change, pollution, over-exploitation, and the loss of biodiversity, directly imperil them. My friends, Let me focus on one of the most critical concerns—the health of coral reefs worldwide. Coral reefs are a crucial first-line defence for blue biodiversity and stability. They protect coasts, support fisheries, and generate trillions of dollars of socio-economic value. Yet, in a single human lifetime, nearly two thirds of the world's coral reefs have been lost. Reversing this loss is imperative. In Jordan, we have embraced science as a tool for transformation. Studies show that corals in the Gulf of Aqaba are exceptionally resilient to extreme temperatures. And this offers hope for their survival—and makes them a unique laboratory to save reefs around the world. That is why I am pleased to announce Jordan's launch of the Aqaba Blue Ventures and Global Centre for Ocean Regeneration. This Centre will be a proving-ground for new technologies that are scalable for global use. A next-generation coral propagation farm is already active. And we have in place a large-scale 3D printer for reef restoration. In developing this project, we have benefited tremendously from our partnership with my friend Philippe Cousteau, and other international collaborators. We are working to provide a pioneering model of regenerative blue economy—one that can be replicated for coral reefs world-wide. These collaborations reflect the importance of joint efforts. Technology will not be enough. We need inclusive partnerships. Global innovators. Cutting-edge scientists. And most importantly, local communities who are deeply connected to the ocean. Their experience is vital to lasting stewardship. My friends, Jordan has long chosen the path of stewardship and healing, despite challenges in our part of the world. We have vital national priorities to improve the lives of Jordanians. Some may see ocean or climate policy unrelated to these goals. We, like so many of you, know better. When nations choose to protect nature—even amid hardships—they strengthen their own resilience. When collective action regenerates ecosystems, we create new opportunities for all to thrive. Now is the time to make nature-positive solutions a mainstream part of global investment. Let us protect our planet's beating blue heart—and ensure our oceans and our seas thrive for generations to come. Thank you very much.' The King is participating in the conference as part of Jordan's commitment to supporting initiatives related to environmental and sustainable development issues, as well as the Kingdom's efforts at the international level to promote sustainable management and preservation of shared natural resources. The conference presents an opportunity for Jordan to showcase its achievements as well as the challenges facing the Gulf of Aqaba's marine ecosystem, in addition to building partnerships and attracting investments to support preservation of the Kingdom's marine environment, and promoting investment in the blue economy.
Jordan Times
25-05-2025
- Jordan Times
Army thwarts drug smuggling attempt using drones
The Southern Military Zone on Sunday thwarts an attempt to smuggle narcotics using two drones along its western front (Petra photo) AMMAN — The Southern Military Zone on Sunday thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics using two drones along its western front. A responsible military source from the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces – Arab Army (JAF) said that Border Guard forces applied the rules of engagement after detecting and tracking the two drones. They were intercepted and brought down inside Jordanian territory, and the seized materials were handed over to the relevant authorities, the source said. The source stressed that the JAF continue to act with strength and determination, mobilising all available resources to counter such activities and prevent all forms of infiltration and smuggling to safeguard the Kingdom's security and stability.
Jordan Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Jordan Times
Jordan wins 7 medals at Asian Jiu-Jitsu championship
AMMAN — The Jordanian national jiu-jitsu team on Sunday secured a total of seven medals, one gold, three silver, and three bronze, on the third day of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship, currently taking place at Prince Hamzah Hall in Al Hussein Youth City in Amman. Mohammad Hamdan clinched the gold medal in the under-62kg category, while Khaled Harahsheh and Shujaa Harahsheh earned silver in the under-62kg and under-69kg categories, respectively. Yaman Ismail also claimed silver in the under-85kg division, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Othman Yaseen won the bronze medal in the under-94kg category, and Abdelkarim Mukhalba secured bronze in the under-77kg category, all within the jiu-jitsu contact competitions. Additionally, Zeina Saleh won a bronze medal in the under-70kg category in the jiu-jitsu division.
Jordan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
His Majesty attends ceremony marking 79th Independence Day
His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, attends the ceremony marking Jordan's 79th Independence Day at Al Husseiniya Palace (Photos courtesy of Royal Court) AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, attended the ceremony to mark Jordan's 79th Independence Day, held on Sunday at Al Husseiniya Palace. During the ceremony, attended by HRH Prince Hashem, heads of authorities delivered speeches expressing deep pride in Jordan and highlighting the significance of the occasion, which serves to reaffirm Jordanians' devotion to their homeland, and their determination to support its continued advancement under the Hashemite leadership. The prime minister, Senate president, House of Representatives speaker, and president of the Judicial Council expressed pride in the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and security agencies for their role in safeguarding the Kingdom. They also emphasised Jordanians' steadfast support for the Hashemite leadership in defending Arab causes, and supporting Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as safeguarding Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. During the ceremony, His Majesty bestowed Royal medals upon a number of distinguished Jordanian individuals and leading national institutions in recognition of their significant contributions and services to the nation and its people. The ceremony highlighted the achievements of Jordanians who have distinguished themselves in different sectors, including filmmaking, media, economics, vocational training, literature, education, technology, culture, medicine, science, and sports. Royal family members, senior officials and officers, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of political parties, civil society organisations, and professional associations attended the ceremony.
