Month: July 2021

Categories
General

Japan grants $697k to support correctional services project at Russeifa detention centre

The Government of Japan has decided to extend a grant of US$697,492 to a Japanese Non-Government Organization, Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCOD) for the 2nd phase capacity enhancement of the Detention Centre in Russeifa, according press statement issued by Japanese embassy.

A grant contract was signed on July 1, 2021 by Araike Katsuhiko, Charge’ d ’affaires and Kitagaki Kenta, Country Representative of NICCOD Jordan Office.

This project is the second phase of a three-year project and the Government of Japan extended a grant of US$ 448,231 for the first phase.

This grant assistance aims to support the capacity enhancement of the Osama Ben-Zaid Detention Centre, which is a pre-trial detention and rehabilitation facility for boys between 16 and 18 years old located in Russeifa, Zarqa.

The project aims to improve environment of correctional education and rehabilitation activities at the centre, develop capacity of staffs for psychological support, and exchange opinions with local communities and the centre, read the statement.

All the activities will be implemented utilizing Japan’s experience and knowledge in this field in order to contribute to the reduction of the recidivism of juvenile criminals in Jordan and to support the centre to be a bridge between juveniles and society, said the statement.

NICCOD is a Japanese Non-Government Organization that has been working for emergency relief and supporting self-reliance with in consideration to the environment since 1979. Subsequent to launching a micro credit project in Karak in 1993, NICCOD has been implementing a wide range of projects in various area across Jordan.

Since the onset of Syrian crisis, it has been engaging in humanitarian support activities for Syrian refugees and Jordanian impoverished people living in Zarqa and its activities have also been expanded to Zaatari refugee camp since August 2014.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
General

House Speaker meets Romanian, Hungarian envoys over cooperation

Lower House Speaker, Abdel Moneim Awdat, discussed in two separate meetings on Thursday, with the ambassadors of Romania, Nicolae Comanescu, and Hungary’s Csaba Czibere, respectively, ways to enhance bilateral relations, especially in the parliamentary domain.

Speaking at his meeting with Comanescu, Awdat stressed the need to launch “closer” Jordanian-Romanian parliamentary cooperation and maintain coordination and consultation on various issues of common interest.

Awdat stressed the importance of joint cultural and educational cooperation, and expanding partnership frameworks in all fields with Romania.

The Romanian envoy, for his part, affirmed his country’s keenness to maintain joint cooperation and coordination, praising Jordan’s role under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II to achieve security and stability in the region.

Later at talks with Hungarian envoy, Awdat expressed the “deep-rooted, friendly” relations between the two countries, stressing the importance of joint cooperation and coordination, which would serve common interests, and contribute to achieving security and stability in the region.

Czibere affirmed his country’s keenness to develop bilateral relations, adding that Hungary is concerned with developing ties with the Kingdom in various fields, especially in economic and higher education areas.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
General

SSC continues trial of ‘sedition’ case

The State Security Court (SSC) held a session Thursday, in ‘sedition’ case,” in the presence of the two defendants, and their defense team.

During the session, the defense attorneys ended their response, per legally established litigation proceedings.

At the same hearing, Public Prosecution representative presented his closing statement, demanding that the two defendants are handed down a “deterrent” sentence in accordance with the law provisions.

The SSC court decided to adjourn the trial until next Tuesday upon request of the defense attorneys.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
Affairs

IMF raises U.S. 2021 growth forecast to 7%, fastest pace in a generation

The International Monetary Fund raised its 2021 U.S. growth projection sharply to 7.0% on Thursday from a 4.6% forecast issued in April, due to unprecedented fiscal and monetary support.

The IMF, in its annual “Article IV” assessment of U.S. economic policies, said the revised forecast represents the fastest pace of growth in a generation for the United States. It raised its 2022 U.S. GDP growth forecast to 4.9%, up from its previous 3.5% April forecast, Reuters reported.

The new forecasts assume that the U.S. Congress will pass the Biden administration’s infrastructure, social spending and tax plans known as the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan this year at a similar size and composition to their original proposals, the IMF said.

“Indicators suggest significant labor market slack remains which should serve as a safety valve to dampen underlying wage and price pressures,” the IMF said in its review statement.

The Fund added that it expects U.S. inflation expectations to remain well-anchored, but these “will be obscured in the coming months by significant, transitory movements in relative prices,” which could cause personal consumption expenditure inflation to temporarily peak at close to 4% later this year.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
Affairs

Zarqa exports stand at JD18 mln during last June-ZCC head

Zarqa Chamber of Commerce (ZCC) President, Hussein Shreim, said the value of the city’s commercial exports in June amounted to JD17, 943, 307, according to the ZCC’s data.

The number of certificates of origin the ZCC has issued during last June stood at 217, Shreim, said in a press statement on Thursday.

During last June, cars, foodstuffs, construction materials, sanitary ware, medicine and medical supplies, clothing, jewelry, electrical and electronic devices, topped Zarqa’s commercial exports, according to Shreim.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
Government Policy

FM, Canadian counterpart hold talks

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, discussed on Thursday, with his Canadian counterpart, Marc Garneau, ways to develop “distinguished” relations between the two friendly countries, and regional and international developments of common interest.

On top are Palestinian cause and international efforts aimed at finding a political horizon and launching serious negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides to achieve a comprehensive and just peace on the basis of the two-state solution, and stop illegal Israeli practices that undermine chances of achieving peace in the region, said a ministry’s statement.

In a joint press conference, Safadi said Garneau’s visit to the Kingdom is “an indication of the deep-rooted Jordanian-Canadian relations and the joint keenness to continue dialogues and discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and developing relations based on shared values ??in providing a better life for peoples.”

Safadi congratulated his Canadian counterpart on the occasion of Canada Day (National Day), which falls on July 1st.

Safadi also expressed his “deepest” condolences and “sincere” sympathy to the government and people of Canada over victims of the heat wave that hit Canada in an “unprecedented” way.

Safadi noted talks with his Canadian counterpart were based on previous dialogues held by His Majesty King Abdullah II and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, over years of contact and joint action to increase bilateral cooperation in the trade, economic and investment fields, as well as security, defense and counter- terrorism areas.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
Government Policy

PM meets Canadian foreign minister over joint cooperation

Prime Minister, Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, discussed on Thursday, with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marc Garneau, the bilateral relations and developments in the Middle East region.

During the meeting, which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, Khasawneh stressed the “deep-rooted, distinguished” Jordanian-Canadian relations in all fields, adding that meetings and contacts between His Majesty King Abdullah II and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opened “broader” horizons for joint cooperation.

Expressing Jordan’s appreciation for Canada’s support to the Kingdom, Khasawneh pointed to the possibility of increasing joint cooperation in the infrastructure, water desalination and education fields.

The PM stressed the importance of enhancing benefits from the free trade agreement (FTA) linking Jordan and Canada, increasing volume of joint trade exchange, which is “still below the level of ambition and the two countries’ available capabilities” and removing any obstacles pertaining to their trade exchange flow.

The PM and Garneau were briefed on the challenges facing Jordan, imposed as a result of regional conditions, especially with regard to hosting Syrian refugees, and the ensuing pressure on the Kingdom’s services, infrastructure and job opportunities.

For his part, Garneau lauded as “close and strong’ the relations between the two countries, bolstered by their common values and their quest to enhance security and stability efforts in the Middle East.

Garneau expressed Canada’s appreciation for Jordan’s role in the region and its understanding of the Kingdom’s challenges as a result of receiving Syrian refugees, stressing that Canada stands by the Kingdom in facing these challenges.

Jordan could be a destination for Canadian tourists, given its tourist, historical and religious sites, Garneau pointed out.

In force since October 2012, Jordan and Canada signed a free trade agreement, the first that Ottawa signed with an Arab country. Volume of trade exchange between the two countries in 2020 amounted to $106.7 million, of which $62.7 million were Jordanian exports to the Canadian market, compared to $44 million Jordanian imports from Canada.

Source: Jordan News Agency