Category: General

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti stressed the importance of the military media in highlighting the Jordan Armed Forces- Arab Army (JAF)’s role at military, security, development and humanitarian levels locally and internationally.

Huneiti gave his remarks in a visit to the Military Media Directorate at the JAF General Command, where he was received by its Director, Colonel Mustafa Abdel Halim Al-Hiyari.

Huneiti was briefed by Colonel Al-Hiyari on the military media’s strategy and message, which aim at raising the morale of JAF personnel and reflecting a positive image through its divisions and units, in addition to the streams and mechanism of implementing the media strategy.

The army chief said JAF seeks to promote its media message and keep abreast with developments in the media outlets and social media locally and internationally, to reflect a positive image of JAF and highlight its active role in various fields.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Lower House Tuesday passed the law amending the Penal Code during a session chaired by the Speaker Abdul Karim Dughmi and attended by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and cabinet members.

The draft criminalizes piracy with life imprisonment and up to the death penalty if it results in one or more deaths, a jail term of no less than two years for the crime of intimidating people, and stiffened the vagrancy penalty, starting with a three-month prison term and up to at least two years for those who recruit others for beggary, and a prison term of no less than 6 months in cases of recurrence, in which it is not permissible to use discretionary mitigating reasons.

The bill punishes behavior associated with riot while intoxicated with a jail term of no less than three months, or a fine of no less than 100 dinars, and penalizes selling at excessive prices with a prison term of no less than one month and not exceeding 3 years, as well as a fine of no less than 200 dinars and no more than 500 dinars.

Among other crimes, the amendments suspend such misdemeanor penalties as fraud and abuse of trust, even if the prison term exceeds one year, if the complainant waived after the issuance of the final verdict, and if the court saw the reasons to believe that he will not return to violating the law, based on the convict’s record, age or the circumstances in which the crime was committed.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh Tuesday said that the Palestinian cause is “our first and central cause and will remain so until the two-state solution is embodied.”

In an Iftar feast, an evening meal that Muslims observing Ramadan eat to break their daily fast during the holy month, Khasawneh said the Palestinian cause will remain an utmost priority for Jordan until a Palestinian state is established on the June 4, 1967, borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In the feast, which was planned by the Department of Palestinian Affairs and other committees and advisory commissions, in Amman, the Premier added that the “historical” Hashemite custodianship of sanctities in occupied Jerusalem has been an “honour, responsibility and duty that His Majesty King Abdullah II has taken upon himself…”

He called on Jordanians from all strata and backgrounds to support the King in defending the Palestinian cause and the Hashemite custodianship over holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Khasawneh said that Jordan has a responsibility to support the Palestinians, adding that Jordan urged peace based on restoring legitimate Palestinians? rights, not the least of which is their right to self-determination.

He praised the Palestinians for their steadfastness in protecting their cause and both Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.

Furthermore, Khasawneh took the chance to congratulate Muslims on Eid al-Fitr which will mark the end of the month of Ramadan and Christians on the occasion of Easter.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Russia Tuesday denied stopping the pumping of natural gas to Poland, emphasising that Warsaw is obligated to pay the costs of fuel supplies as per the new payment procedures.

The Russian majority state-owned multinational energy “Gazprom” said: “Warsaw is obligated to pay the costs of fuel supplies in accordance with the new payment procedures, and there is no truth to the news that Russia has stopped pumping natural gas to it.”

In early April, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a new system for paying for Russian gas to consumers for a list of countries that Russia classified as “unfriendly.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Henry T. Wooster Tuesday said that trade between Jordan and the U.S. is important in strengthening the resilience of Jordan’s food supply networks.

In a charity Iftar feast organised by the Shaban Group for Food Industries, in cooperation with USA Rice, for 300 orphans and representatives of care homes, in Amman, Wooster praised the charity Iftar organisers for holding the event and emphasised his country’s commitment to Jordan’s food security.

Ambassador Wooster noted the importance of trade between Jordan and the U.S. in strengthening the resilience of Jordan’s food supply networks: “Companies such as Shaban and Jordan’s entire private sector play a key role in strengthening trade ties between our two countries, which supports the Government of Jordan in achieving its food security goals.

“The private sector must be the basis of social and economic prosperity for all Jordanians.”

CEO of Shaban Group Azmi Shaban said the sponsorship of the Iftar event is an extension of the Group’s philosophy of giving back to various sectors of society, in support of Jordan’s food needs, serving all groups of society, especially children.

The ceremony included gifts and several interactive, educational and entertainment activities for the children.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The U.S. is likely to impose more economic sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and “no one is safe from our sanctions,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday.

Psaki would not comment specifically on a Wall Street Journal report that the reported mother of three of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s children had so far not been sanctioned to avoid riling Putin, Reuters reported Monday.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Safadi called for exerting concerted efforts to find a political horizon, because the continued absence of this horizon is a great danger, and the possibility of a deterioration of the situation exists.

He said that real practical steps must be taken in order to restore confidence in the peace process by activating it in order to reach a two-state solution.

He added that the talks dealt with efforts made for a political solution to the Syrian crisis, and support for refugees and host countries.

Safadi warned of the danger of a decline in international support for Syrian refugees, and the need for supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and support for Syrian refugees to remain a priority for the international community to ensure a decent life for refugees.

Safadi expressed his hope that the Brussels meeting on refugees organized by the European Union will result in practical steps to re-highlight the refugee issue and agree on practical mechanisms to assist refugees and host countries.

“We also talked about the Ukrainian crisis, and we stressed the need to reach a solution to this crisis also on the basis of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the principle of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” Safadi said.

“This is a position of principle for us in the Kingdom, and we support all efforts aimed at reaching a solution to the Ukrainian crisis on this basis and in a manner that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said that “Austria and Jordan share long, historical and distinguished ties, and we were pleased to see His Majesty King Abdullah in Vienna last year.” He pointed out that the two countries have a complete and comprehensive vision for cooperation in various fields, including security and economics.

He added that “Jordan is a strong partner, as it is an oasis of stability in a turbulent environment.”

“While Austria focuses on the Ukrainian crisis, they do not forget conflicts and crises in other regions,” Schallenberg noted, adding that Austria have provided 25 million euros to refugees in the Middle East, and also provided economic aid to Jordan as part of this support. He also said that his visit comes within a week of difficult events.

Schallenberg commended Jordanian efforts to stop the escalation, saying, “I frankly appreciate and thank your efforts to calm the situation in this tense situation, and I value the custodianship over the holy sites.”

He stressed the need to find political and economic prospects to achieve peace, pointing out that he will meet his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad Al-Malki, in Ramallah tomorrow.

The Austrian minister thanked the Jordanian government for hosting refugees and his countries appreciation for the burdens it bears.

He added, “The European Union stands by Jordan and we will continue to assist you.” He pointed out that last year his country and the European Union provided more than 180 million euros in aid to respond to the Syrian crisis, and that it is working to provide the same amount this year.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The families of migrants who died when their vessel capsized Lebanon’s northern coast held funerals in the port city of Tripoli on Monday while rescue efforts continued to find dozens still missing.

A dinghy carrying Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian migrants sank late on Saturday off the coast near Tripoli when naval forces collided with the vessel as the smuggler tried to evade capture.

The United Nations’ refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates the dinghy was carrying 80 people at the time it capsized. The authorities say 47 people were rescued, leaving around two dozen unaccounted for.

A seventh body was found on Monday morning, the head of the Tripoli port authority told Reuters.

Source: Jordan News Agency

His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday hosted an iftar for awqaf and church leaders from Jerusalem.

Speaking at the iftar, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Abdullah expressed support for the steadfastness of Jerusalemites and their efforts to preserve the holy city’s identity, as well as its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

His Majesty stressed the need for efforts to prevent a repeat of the violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites, or against Jerusalemites.

The King noted Arab leaders’ stances in stepping up efforts to cease the latest escalations in the Palestinian Territories and Jerusalem, and supporting the Palestinian people.

His Majesty said Jordan is working with all regional and international partners to end violations in Jerusalem and Al Haram Al Sharif.

The King stressed the historical and religious responsibility of safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship, as well as protecting the rights of Muslim and Christian worshippers.

His Majesty also expressed best wishes to Christians on the occasion of Easter.

For their part, the attendees briefed the King on the latest developments in Jerusalem, including the violations that have been taking place during Ramadan in Al Aqsa Mosque and the restrictions that affected the marking of Christian occasions.

They also expressed appreciation for His Majesty’s steadfast position in support of the Palestinian people and the rights of Muslim and Christian worshippers in Jerusalem.

They highlighted the important role of the Hashemite Custodianship in safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg Monday held a meeting in Amman for a discussion on the developments in Yemen and the UN efforts to end the Yemeni crisis.

Safadi said Jordan welcomes the two-month truce announced by the UN in Yemen, which began in early April, highlighting Jordan’s support for the UN efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis and the Kingdom’s continued support for the Amman-based UN Mission for Yemen.

Safadi praised Saudi Arabia for its efforts to achieve a solution to the Yemeni crisis, adding that Jordan supports both Saudi Arabia and the UAE in whatever action they take to protect their security and interests, stressing that the security of the GCC countries is part of Jordan’s.

For his part, Grundberg talked about the latest developments and international efforts aimed at ending the Yemeni crisis, praising Jordan’s support for efforts to enhance regional security and stability.

The UN envoy welcomed the Jordanian government’s decision to agree to operate Yemeni Airlines flights from Sana’a International Airport to Queen Alia International Airport.

Source: Jordan News Agency