Jordan-China diplomacy: King Abdullah II is set to visit China from Aug. 18–24, telling Xinhua Jordan wants Beijing’s help on easing Middle East tensions and advancing a two-state solution, while also pushing cooperation in green energy, scientific innovation, tourism, and civil aviation. Local governance & delivery: A Jerash governorate panel under “Maidani” says some 2025 Cabinet commitments are moving faster than others, with health, water, culture, education, transport, tourism, and agriculture all under review. Law & land rights: The House of Representatives approved 12 articles of a draft Local Administration Law, including definitions tied to municipal services and an “urban development observatory.” Property expropriation debate: A legal analysis warns that amending the Real Property Law to include railways in the definition of “road” could expand cases where up to a quarter of land is taken without compensation. Payments & quick commerce: Telr and Jet Application signed a partnership to power Jet’s payment ecosystem, aiming for secure, scalable, fast digital checkout. Telecom modernization: Zain Jordan and Ericsson announced a new phase to modernize Zain’s cloud-native BSS for the 5G era, including billing upgrades and real-time data tools. Education & research ranking: Applied Science Private University placed first among Jordan’s private universities in the 2026 Shanghai Ranking indicators, highlighting research and academic output. Student support: The government added JD10m to the Student Support Fund to back 10,000 more university students, funded via distinctive vehicle licence plate auctions. Regional security tech: A report says Syrian-Jordanian captagon smugglers are increasingly using GPS-equipped balloons, as authorities dismantle labs and tighten routes.