Jordan News UpdatesOman, Oman Wednesday expressed condolences to Jordan on the death of police officers while responding to riots in the country’s south and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
In a press statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Oman’s “full” solidarity with Jordan’s measures to maintain security and ensure stability and its absolute rejection of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday announced that Russia is putting into operation the Kovikta natural gas field, the “largest” in the east of the country, with reserves of 1.8 million cubic meters of gas.
“We are launching the unique Kovykta gas field and its condensate, which is the largest in eastern Siberia. Its extractable reserves amount to 1.8 trillion cubic meters of gas,” Putin said during the operation of the gas pipeline.
He added, “An 800-kilometre pipeline has been constructed to transport natural gas; thus, our most important gas transport route will operate over 3,000 kilometres.”
Source: Jordan News Agency
Amman, Jordan “fully” believes in teamwork to combat corruption, open up to the international community, and exchange best practices to strengthen integrity principles, in accordance with global standards, and build law state institutions, Chairman of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC), Muhannad Hijazi, said.
Jordan’s political will has embraced this approach, which has “repeatedly” emphasized people’s right to protect public money, Hijazi added.
Hijazi’s remarks came in a speech delivered at the first ministerial meeting of anti-corruption law enforcement agencies in member states of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Saudi Jeddah city, to discuss and approve the draft “Mecca Agreement” for cooperation in combating corruption.
Hijazi described this agreement as an “advanced” step to achieve cooperation, coordination and exchange of expertise with all OIC member states.
Expressing hope agreement would serve as a model for other international and regional organizations, he said the pact would create an environment to highlight the adverse effects of corruption crimes and their direct impact on people’s lives and the resulting unemployment, frustration and extremism.
To achieve the desired goals, he said the law-making authorities in OIC countries should work to create a legislative environment to align with the agreement’s goals and develop tools aimed to smoothly exchange information on corruption crimes, in a “safe and easy manner at a speedy mechanism.”
On the sidelines of the conference, Hijazi discussed with President of Iraqi Commission of integrity (COI) , ways to enhance joint cooperation in combating corruption, enhancing integrity, exchanging expertise and concluding a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two sides.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Amman, A Cabinet session, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Bishr Khasawneh, on Wednesday mourned the death of Public Security Directorate’s (PSD) martyrs: Cap. Ghaith Qasim Rahahleh, Lit. Moataz Musa Najada, and Corporal Ibrahim Atef Shaqareen, who died in the line of duty, in a raid on one of the suspects in killing Brig. Gen. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Dalabeeh.
The Council of Ministers expressed its deepest condolences for the martyrs and wished the PSD’s injured servicemen a speedy recovery wounded during the raid.
In this regard, the Cabinet decided to posthumously promote Rahahleh to major and Najada to 2nd lieutenant and refer the decision for approval by a Royal Decree.
The PSD Director, Maj. Gen. Obaidullah Maaytah, also decided to posthumously promote Shaqareen to sergeant.
On the other hand, the Cabinet approved an amended draft law regulating general budget and budgets of government units for 2022, in light of the constitutional amendments that were recently endorsed, foremost amendment to Constitution’s Article (112), which stipulates submission of a single draft general budget law that features government units’ budgets.
The Council of Ministers also approved the amended Military Medical Committees Bylaw for 2022, as personnel of Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) -Arab Army and security apparatuses, who were recruited after date of 1/1/2003, are now subject to Social Security Corporation’s (SSC) Law.
This bylaw also aims to set mechanism for examining military personnel by Higher Joint Medical Committee and show manner of taking decisions for these army servicemen, in accordance with SSC Law’s provisions.
The Council also approved the mandating reasons for the draft Investment Environment Bylaw for 2022, in preparation for sending it to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau (LOB) to complete the issuance procedures in accordance with rules, while giving it the status of urgency.
The bylaw aims to unify legislation regulating Jordan’s business and investment environment and reinstate a uniform regulation in this regard to provide services and follow-up on investors’ affairs with transparency, objectivity and fairness.
It also provides protection for investors and their investments and treat them fairly, in accordance with principle of the rule of law and international standards and practices.
In addition, the system seeks to regulate granting incentives, priviliges and exemptions that stimulate investment, whether inside or outside development and free estates and regulate powers of the master developer in these zones.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Amman, Senate President, Faisal Fayez, affirmed the “deep-rooted” Jordanian-Egyptian relations based on mutual respect, common interests, and efforts to serve Arab just causes.
During his meeting on Wednesday, with Egyptian Ambassador to Jordan, Mohammad Samir, Fayez said bilateral relations are “solid,” thanks to keenness of His Majesty King Abdullah II and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to strengthen and build on ties in various political, economic and investment fields.
Fayez also stressed the importance of increasing joint cooperation, activating bilateral agreements, facilitating movement of inter-trade traffic and removing any related obstacles.
Fayez said the region’s “delicate” circumstances require pan-Arab unity to face and solve surrounding challenges.
Fayez said Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership in its second session, which was hosted by Jordan Tuesday at the Dead Sea, under His Majesty King Abdullah II’chairmanship, and the recent tripartite Jordanian-Iraqi-Egyptian meetings, constitute an “advanced” step in the framework for strengthening joint Arab action.
These moves are a “positive and advanced” step aimed to develop cooperation and strengthen partnership relations in various fields, which would overcome the various challenges facing the Arab countries, he said.
In addition, he noted these moves affirm “firm” desire of Arab countries to increase coordination and push joint efforts, aimed to achieve economic and strategic integration.
For his part, Egyptian envoy hailed the “high” level of “strategic” Egyptian-Jordanian relations in various fields.
The diplomat also highlighted importance of Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership and the recent tripartite Jordanian-Iraqi-Egyptian summits at the leaders’ level, with a “remarkable” dimension and impact on the regional and international arenas, calling on implementing their outcomes to serve common interests.
The meeting dealt with the importance of building on and strengthening Egyptian-Jordanian relations in various fields and sectors, foremost are the economic and investment areas, which would address the two countries’ economic and development challenges, according to a Senate statement.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Amman, His Majesty King Abdullah and France President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday held talks at Al Husseiniya Palace, covering bilateral ties and the latest regional and international developments.
At bilateral talks that were followed by an expanded meeting attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, the two leaders stressed the deep-rooted ties of friendship between Jordan and France, as well as keenness to advance them further.
Speaking at the beginning of the expanded meeting, King Abdullah noted the warm and historical bilateral relationship, adding, “I only see that the relationship between our two countries is growing by leaps and bounds and I wanted to thank your leadership for that and how you help us.”
Referring to the second Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership held at the Dead Sea, His Majesty said, “I very much appreciated your support for the Baghdad II conference yesterday, which I think went very successfully as we broke many boundaries to be able to move forward.”
“We look at France as an integral part of our history in the region,” the King continued, adding, “This is an amazing relationship that we have always had with France politically, more so militarily, unfortunately because of issues in our region.”
His Majesty said discussions with President Macron address the challenges in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, as well as the Palestinian cause, noting that the French president’s “role in being able to focus on the issues and the challenges that we have has been of tremendous help”.
For his part, President Macron stressed the importance of France’s cooperation with Jordan and the outcomes of his talks with the King, highlighting the meetings held on the sidelines of the Baghdad conference.
“I think the bilateral relations are delivering great results and we want to do more,” he said, expressing France’s desire to support Jordan’s projects and what is important for the Jordanian people.
“Your role in the region and our cooperation and critical issues for peace and stability in the whole region are absolutely essential to us,” President Macron said, describing Jordan and His Majesty as “very clear partners, allies, and friends in the region for us.”
The French president described the second Baghdad conference as a success, commending Jordan and the King for their “convening power and the ability to gather all these countries around the table and then sharing the same agenda, framing the discussion in the region and supporting Iraqi sovereignty and the different prospects”.
“I want to thank you and congratulate you because I think it was not a done deal, and a few months ago all of the people probably doubted the collective ability to organize such a conference, and you did it, so thank you very much,” President Macron added.
At the talks, His Majesty thanked France for providing development support for Jordan across various sectors, expressing the Kingdom’s keenness to expand economic cooperation with France.
The King also commended France and the European Union for supporting peace efforts on the basis of the two-state solution, stressing that Jordan continues to undertake efforts to safeguard Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship.
His Majesty stressed the importance of maintaining support for refugees and UNRWA.
The talks also covered international developments and challenges, including ways to cooperate in ensuring food security and mitigating the impact of climate change, while maintaining efforts to counter terrorism within a holistic approach.
Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Jordan’s Ambassador to France Makram Queisi, and senior French officials accompanying President Macron attended the talks.
Earlier, an official welcoming ceremony was held at Al Husseiniya Palace for President Macron, who later concluded his visit to Jordan.
The French president had arrived in the Kingdom on Tuesday to participate in the Baghdad conference at the Dead Sea.
Source: Jordan News Agency
London, The pound sterling fell against the US dollar on Wednesday while the European euro rose.
According to economic reports from financial centres, the pound fell 0.25 per cent to 1.216 dollars, and the euro rose 0.11 per cent against the dollar to 1.063.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Washington, Oil prices rose in the global market Wednesday as US crude recorded its highest level in two weeks after an unexpected drop in crude stocks in the US, according to the FX website.
FX reported that according to preliminary data from the American Petroleum Institute, global mail.US crude rose by 2.85 per cent to $78.16 a barrel, the highest since December 5 and recorded the lowest at $75.82 a barrel.
Brent crude rose by 2.8 per cent to $81.93 a barrel, from its opening at $79.71 and recorded the lowest at $79.59 a barrel.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Aqaba, The Board of Directors of the Aqaba Chamber of Commerce and Bangladesh Ambassador to Jordan, Nahida Sobhan, and an accompanying delegation Wednesday held talks in Aqaba to further trade ties and cooperation.
Sobhan said Bangladesh witnessed a “significant” increase in European direct investment due to several factors, especially the availability of qualified and trained workers and the country’s progress in human development.
Members of the Aqaba Chamber presented the commercial and investment opportunities within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone and the applicable regional and international trade agreements that qualify Aqaba to shore in Bengali investments.
The gathering agreed to organise meetings with chambers of commerce in Bangladesh.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Amman, President of the Textile, Readymade Clothes and Footwear Syndicate Sultan Allan, denied news reports on imposing a new garment tax.
Allan, in a statement to “Petra” on Wednesday, noted a rumor of unknown origin was circulated over the past few hours that a new tax will be imposed on garment items locally.
On its role to increase sales activity, he said the syndicate is working “hard” to lower sales tax on garments and footwear, as essential commodities, adding that its efforts also aim to slash tariffs on fabrics, as production inputs, which would support the local industry’s competitiveness.
The syndicate, he noted, views rumors as “harmful” to the citizens’ interest, Jordan’s trade sector and national economy, which is battling “multiple difficulties.”
Source: Jordan News Agency