Day: February 22, 2023

Amman: The Lower House Palestine Committee condemned Israeli occupation forces’ massacre in Palestinian city of Nablus on Wednesday, which led to killing 10 Palestinians and injuring about 100 others.

In a press statement, the committee’s head, MP Fayez Basbous, described Israeli government as “fascist, bloody, and the most extreme and terrorist,” which “is going to implement its barbaric, immoral, and inhuman plans against defenseless Palestinian people.”

Further Israeli escalation would lead to a third Palestinian intifada (uprising), with unpredictable disastrous outcomes, Basbous warned.

Basbous said Nablus’s “brutal massacre ” echoes previous similar Israeli belligerence on the Palestinian people and systematic demolition of their homes.

The committee called on international, Arab and Islamic community to put pressure on Israeli government to provide international protection for Palestinian people, and take a “strong and unified” stance against the unjust Israeli practices, the statement said.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Lower House on Wednesday approved the draft law amending Social Security Law for 2022, in a session chaired by Speaker Ahmad Safadi and attended by Prime Minister Dr. Bishr Khasawneh and the cabinet members.

In its final version, the deputies approved two paragraphs added by the government to Article 59, allowing the private sector to reduce the monthly subscriptions rate for old-age, disability and death insurance by up to 50% for Jordanians who haven’t yet joined Social Security Corporation (SSC) and younger than 30 yeras old.

The law also regulated legal status of under 45 yrs old military retirees, who were active on June 10, 2020, by calculating an additional year of army service in Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) and security apparatuses.

In addition, the law offered services to workers in Jordan’s agricultural properties to receive insurance for maternity and work injuries, while other categories are partially covered by old age, disability and death allowances according to a regulation issued for this purpose.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The National Center for Human Rights on Wednesday participated in the International Conference on Climate Change and Human Rights, which kicked off Tuesday in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Participants from several countries and organizations discussed several urgent issues facing humanity, such as the impacts and obligations of climate change and human rights and the United Nations role in this regard as well as human rights mechanisms in advancing rights-based climate action.

A study was presented during the conference, which is related to adapting to climate change, providing access to justice for all, and building practical, inclusive, and accountable institutions in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16.

The conference was held under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani and organized by the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Development Programme (UNDP), Arab League, and Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Crown Prince Foundation (CPF) on Wednesday brought the curtain down on a three-year flagship democracy and advocacy capacity-building program targeting college students.

The “Ana Usharek” (I Participate) extracurricular program was carried out in 13 universities and colleges throughout the Kingdom in collaboration with the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) and was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The program’s main goals centered on bolstering participants’ capacities for active civic engagement, and social action among young people.

Training and interactive dialogue sessions were offered through the program to help participants learn about and internalize democratic principles, acquire skills for participating in political life and policymaking, and grow in their sense of civic responsibility.

More than 17,000 men and women have been trained through the “Ana Usharek” program over the past three years, according to a press release from the CPF.

“We worked with partners to provide interactive training and dialogue sessions that strengthened democratic concepts and values among young men and women and gave them the information they need to participate in political activity, make decisions, and cultivate a sense of citizenship”, said Tamam Mango, CEO of the CPF.

She added that the program promoted youth political engagement and backed the nation’s political reform drive, to which His Highness Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, the Crown Prince, directed that special attention be paid.

In the same vein, Lyla Bashan, Deputy Director, Democracy, Rights and Governance Office at USAID, stated that USAID prioritizes programs to foster youth participation in political life given their significant contribution to Jordan’s political modernization process.

According to Nvart Taminian, the director of the Youth and PWD program at the NDI, the program has been successful in providing a space for diversity and difference thanks to the efforts of a professional team, which is in line with the goals of His Majesty the King, the initiatives of the governments of Jordan, and the hopes of the Jordanian people.

“After years of work, we were able to assist thousands of young men and women in achieving their objectives. As a result, we now see groups of driven young men leading youth groups in the governorates that are engaged in volunteer and youth work to effect real change”, she added.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Mexican Ambassador to Jordan Roberto Rodriguez Hernandez has said his country and the Kingdom maintain strong relationship and they are committed to advancing cooperation in a host of domains.

During a press conference on Wednesday to commemorate the 48th anniversary of Mexican-Jordanian relations, the envoy highlighted the most important activities and events that will take place in the coming days and weeks to celebrate and cement bilateral ties.

In cooperation with regional organizations that support women, he said a week of events and activities would be held to honor International Women’s Day. In addition to a reception in honor of accomplished women who, through their courage and dedication, shared success stories and inspiration, the event will feature dialogue sessions on current issues as well as issues to empower and promote the rights of Jordanian and Mexican women.

Historia Minima de Mexico, an account of Mexico’s history and key events, has been translated into Arabic and will be made freely available to academic institutions, students, and others who are interested, he added.

Furthermore, a delegation of academics from the Mexican University of Colmex will be welcomed in Amman with the goal of fostering academic collaboration between Jordanian and Mexican universities in a variety of fields, including scientific research and the exchange of knowledge, experts, and students.

The ambassador announced that the Mexican Embassy, in conjunction with the Jordanian-Mexican Friendship Association, will host a number of events and activities throughout the month of July. These will include a conference on the development of Jordanian-Mexican relations in all areas, a workshop to discuss business and investment opportunities in both countries, and the twinning of the Jordanian city of Salt with the Mexican city of Ixtapan de la Sal. Along with this social event, members of the Mexico-Jordan Friendship Association will travel to Mexico in the second semester to conduct business with their Mexican counterparts.

A delegation of social media and tourism industry influencers will visit Mexico for a promotional trip, and their Mexican counterparts will soon visit Jordan, the ambassador said.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) has appointed Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Ali as Chair of its International Advisory Council for a 3-year term.

The appointment was made in recognition of Her Highness’s contributions to the preservation of natural plant life, her noteworthy role in founding the Royal Jordanian Botanical Garden, and her active international involvement in matters pertaining to plants and the environment.

Princess Basma is a member of BGCI’s Board, is the FAO Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa, and is the Founder of the Royal Botanic Garden.

BGCI’s International Advisory Council (IAC) comprises directors from 32 botanic gardens and arboreta worldwide. Its purpose is to provide strategic advice on the direction, balance and relevance of BGCI’s programs and priorities, and to provide leadership for the sector.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The State Security Court (SSC) on Wednesday handed down death sentences to three defendants and prison terms of up to 20 years to eight others for their roles in a terrorist operation that took place in the northwestern city of Salt in 2018.

On August 11, 2018, a commando force raided a building in Salt that was believed to be the hideout of a group linked to a terrorist attack with an explosive device the day before against a police vehicle in the nearby town of Fuhais, killing one officer and injuring six others.

The raid on the terrorists’ hideout in Salt left four officers dead and several others injured.

Fourteen defendants were tried in the case on serious terrorism-related charges, including murder, making explosives for use in terrorist operations, funding terrorist organizations, endorsing terrorist ideologies, joining terrorist organizations, selling and transporting weapons and ammunition, among others. Three others were cleared of all charges by the SSC.

According to the indictment, a copy of which was obtained by the Jordan News Agency (Petra), the convicts were disseminating information about the terrorist group “ISIS” among one another and keeping up with the group’s media releases. They all agreed that the terrorist group works to “carry out God’s law,” and they started promoting the organization’s ideas and principles among one another through videos they had obtained from the group.

The convicts all agreed that military transportation buses, security services and patrols, the Salt office of the intelligence department, and the governorate building were potential targets for terrorist military operations. They also agreed on the specifics of how those operations would be carried out, according to the indictment.

Source: Jordan News Agency