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AMMAN — The Princess Alia Foundation and Jordan Forum For Business and Professional Women on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance mutual cooperation in the field of social responsibility.

The memo, signed in the attendance of HRH Princess Alia and Tagreed Nfaisi, head of the forum, aims at empowering women economically, through conducting training programmes across the Kingdom that are set to integrate women in the economic field, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Thursday.

The agreement also aims to empower local women to generate income, reinforcing their contribution within sustainable developmental efforts.

AMMAN — Three were killed on Thursday when a fire swept through a restaurant on the Azraq-Omari road, the Civil Defence Department (CDD) said.

The three victims sustained burns and suffered smoke inhalation, and their bodies have been retrieved by Zarqa CDD personnel, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Public Security Department has formed a team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

AMMAN — Thursday marked the 15th day of public schools being closed due to the teachers' strike demand a 50-per cent pay raise, drawing concerns from all affected parties.

"I support the teachers' right to the raise, but honestly, it has been three weeks, and perhaps this is the first time students have had an almost four-month summer break. I am afraid this will continue for too long, it will be hard to control the situation if it does," Na'eem Al Aqqad, whose son is in the ninth grade, told The Jordan Times on Thursday.

Fadi Ibrahim, a Tawjihi (the general secondary education certificate examination) student, said: "I am taking private classes for some of the subjects that need to be covered. Many students take private classes for certain subjects, but other subjects need to be covered at school, and if this continues, we will be under so much pressure to make up for the units we have missed."

A teacher at a school in Amman, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Jordan Times that the Ministry of Education's proposal tied the increase in salaries to the teachers' ranks. 

"There are currently five ranks of teachers that are based on experience, and it takes several years for teachers to move from one rank to another, while for vocational teachers, the increase of the rank is tied to certain tests that they need to pass," the teacher said.

When asked why the JTA rejected the proposal, the teacher said that the ministry’s plan was to increase assistant teachers' salaries by 15 per cent, teachers by 20 per cent, higher rank teachers by 30 per cent and experienced teachers by 40 per cent. 

"However, if the lowest ranks get paid a total of JD350 for example, the 15 per cent proposed increase would not apply to it. It would only apply to the main salary, which could be a maximum of JD160, making the increase approximately only JD24," the teacher said.

The teachers' salaries are divided into three parts: The main salary, the cost of living allowance and a technical or specialised allowance. The teachers’ demand of a 50-per cent pay raise refers to the main salary alone, he noted. 

The Jordan Times attempted to contact the JTA several times for comment but the spokesperson was unreachable. 

On their Facebook page, the JTA warned the teachers against participating in any protests that might turn the demands from professional to political, urging everyone to commit only to requests issued officially from the association. 

The JTA earlier rejected the government’s first proposal, describing it as “vague”, and criticised the proposal’s failure to address or acknowledge teachers’ demands.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday endorsed amendments to Article 35 of the construction by-law number 28 of 2018, which the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) said will contribute to resolving the problem of the construction of additional units on the roofs of unfinished buildings, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times on Thursday.

Under the decision, a floor can be built on a building's roof if certain criteria are met, such as that of the floor not exceeding 20 per cent of the roof's area and not being taller than three metres and 25 centimetres, according to the statement. 

"This is going to help better the urban fabric, especially when buildings that were only two levels are completed to four levels with a roof apartment, which will belong to the residents of the level under the roof," the Jordan Housing Developers Association President Zuhair Omari told The Jordan Times on Thursday over the phone.

"The by-law was endorsed last March, and this article was not clear enough in regards to unfinished buildings, resolving only new buildings' issues, and now the endorsed amendments have fixed this problem," Omari said, noting that the last floor becomes a duplex house.

The floor or unit on the roof will be constructed in a way that does not allow public access to it, and allows it to be private for those using or residing in it, Omari said, noting that the amendments will help fix any distortions in the urban fabric.

According to the association president, in order for a floor or unit to be built on a roof, building residents need to approve its construction. 

With regards to new buildings, if there is one owner, it can be built immediately. If there are multiple apartment owners, all owners must agree to build the additional floor. 

GAM Licences Department Executive Director Mhanna Qattan said the amendment preserves the owner’s right to possess the roof unit, noting that the unit should not hinder other residents from accessing shared services on the roof itself.

AMMAN — The Ninth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will be held in Jordan next year, which will be "another great event" in the history of China-Jordan and China-Arab relations, said Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Pan Weifang on Wednesday.

The envoy's remarks came during a reception held in Amman to celebrate China’s 70th anniversary, noting that Jordanian-Chinese relations have been continuously deepened on multiple levels, thanks to the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the Belt and Road Initiative, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Thursday.

China is Jordan's third largest trading partner and second largest source of imports, he highlighted, adding that in 2018, bilateral trade totalled $3.184 billion, an increase of 3.25 per cent year-on-year.

The Jordanian delegation to the Shanghai-held 2nd China International Import Expo, due to take place next November, will attend for the first time as a guest of honour, he said.

Touching on the Chinese assistance extended to the Kingdom, the envoy also went over the Chinese-funded Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant, which will meet 10-15 per cent of Jordan's electricity demand, drawing attention to the memorandum of understanding signed by the Chinese company Huawei and three Jordanian universities to provide ICT training for 3,000 Jordanian officials and students.

Talks also covered the Jordanian-Chinese negotiations over the implementation of Salt Road reconstruction, water conservancy equipment and food aid, among other assistance projects, highlighting that the first batch of eight advanced customs inspection equipment provided by the Chinese government is expected to arrive at Aqaba Port in early October.

China has grown into the world’s second largest economy, industrial producer and trader of goods, Weifang said, underlining that China has contributed to over 30 per cent of global growth in recent years, making it the No.1 "engine" of world economic growth, according to Petra.

Over the past years, China's per capita national income increased from about $70 to $9,470, with more than 700 million poor in China emerging from poverty, forming the world's largest middle-income group of more than 400 million people, in addition to China building a basic pension insurance and medical insurance system covering more than 900 million people, he added. 

The diplomat also said that the Belt and Road Initiative has opened up new space for world economic growth, set up a new platform for international trade and investment, as well as expanded new practices for improving global governance. 

AMMAN — Muthana Gharaibeh, the Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, announced in a press conference on Thursday the launching of the ministry’s new logo and visual identity which comes after the change in the ministry’s name, which was previously called “Ministry of Information and Communications Technology”.

Gharaibeh pointed out that the new logo was inspired by the colours of the Jordanian flag, and the shapes that form it were inspired by the city of Petra, one of the seven wonders of the world.

He also added that it is an "ode" to the first entrepreneurs that built this land, "how they baked the first loaf of bread in the history of mankind and used the first currency – making them an inspiration for all Jordanians". 

Gharaibeh thanked Hind Khlaifat, the CEO of AloCloud, for conceptualising and designing the new visual identity. 

“Our belief in the importance of the partnership between the public and private sectors inspired us to work on this project, because it is associated with a ministry that plays a vital role in the next step towards a modern Jordan,” Khlaifat said.

AMMAN — The Cassation Court has upheld a May Criminal Court decision to sentence two men to prison terms ranging from 10 to 22 years after convicting them of murdering a man over financial feuds in Amman in January 2015.

The Criminal Court handed the two defendants the prison terms for their role in the deadly assault of the victim on January 23 during a heated fight in the Nazzal neighbourhood. 

The victim died in hospital four days later from bullet wounds he sustained during the shooting incident that came as a result of a fight with the two defendants.

Court documents said that one day before the incident, the defendants and the victim were involved in a heated argument about financial matters. 

“The defendants wanted to take revenge and the following day decided to attack the victim,” court papers said.

The two defendants armed themselves with a pistol and a wooden stick and headed to the victim's house, according to court documents.

“The defendants attacked the victim and one of them struck him on the head with the wooden stick while the other shot him in the stomach,” court papers said.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, while the two defendants fled the area and were later arrested by police, the documents added.

The Criminal Court attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the ruling against the two defendants, stating that the court proceedings were accurate and they deserved the punishment they received.

Meanwhile, the defendants contested the court ruling, arguing that the Criminal Court's proceedings were “inaccurate” and “did not rely on credible witnesses or evidence”.

However, the Cassation Court ruled that the Criminal Court’s judgement fell within the law, that the proceedings were proper and that the sentence given was satisfactory.

“The defendant knew the dangers of playing with a weapon and the threat it poses to his surroundings,” the higher court ruled.

The Cassation Court tribunal comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Bassem Mubeidin, Naji Zu’bi and Majid Azab. 

AMMAN — The Social Security Corporation  (SSC) on Thursday released the second sustainability report for 2018.

Following international best practice, the report has been developed in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards of Amsterdam-based Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which helps global businesses and governments understand and communicate their impact on critical sustainability issues according to clear indicators, SSC Director General Hazem Rahahleh said.

He added that 93 per cent of the world’s 250 largest companies release sustainability reports periodically, the Jordan News Agency Petra, reported.

The report aims to show the SSC's achievements in the economic, environmental and social sectors. Mahmoud Maaytah, director of the SSC’s research and studies department, said that the corporation has ensured the fulfillment of financial commitments, floated a bid to join environmental initiatives and upheld social responsibility towards employees.

SSC called on all stakeholders to review the report launched via its website, welcoming notices and suggestions, Petra added.

AMMAN — The Consumer Protection Society said on Thursday that it has received several complaints from consumers regarding the manipulation of commodity prices and poor regulation of shops in various governorates across the Kingdom.

The complaints were mainly centred on misleading of shoppers by failing to declare real prices, manipulating the prices of goods and getting rid of items nearing their expiry dates through offers and large sales, as well as commodities containing carcinogenic and dangerous substances, Society President Mohammad Obeidat told The Jordan Times on Thursday.

"Unfortunately these practices are not occuring in specific areas but in all regions of the Kingdom,” Obeidat said, adding that “there were even complaints about the manipulation of the weights of goods such as sugary cereals, toffee, chips and all the things that entice little children, leading to fraud, deception and pulling the wool over consumers' eyes".

The Ministry of Trade and Supply welcomes complaints, suggestions and inquiries, providing various means for people to contact it, including a 24-hour complaints hotline, mobile application, e-government platform and e-mail, Director of Market Surveillance and Protection Ali Talafha told The Jordan Times on Thursday.

Talafha, who is also the director of the Consumer Protection Department at the ministry, noted that the shoppers’ complaints are immediately transferred to observers, who sometimes remain at the shops until 10pm to gather evidence to address the situation and verify the commitment of market suppliers.

"The ministry has carried out a lot of awareness campaigns concerning consumers’ limits and suppliers’ duties, and the results were positive," Talafha said.

AMMAN — Jordan has hosted Syrian refugees and spared no effort in providing them with services and care, in alignment with the Kingdom’s values and traditions, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Wednesday. 

“The Kingdom’s righteous actions align with its values despite difficult economic conditions and require the international community to do what is right as well,” Safadi said, adding that the international community must assist the Kingdom as it shoulders the burdens of the refugee crisis and its repercussions, which have posed high costs and pressures on the education and health sectors, among others, as well as the infrastructure and labour market, a Foreign Ministry statement said. 

During a conference on the issue of refugees, organised by the EU and the UN on the sidelines of the General Assembly meetings held in New York, Safadi expressed appreciation to the EU, UN institutions and the international community for their aid to the Kingdom as it continues to face the refugee crisis, noting that, at its current level, this support only covers a “small portion” of the costs incurred by Jordan. 

The minister stressed the need for a political resolution to the Syrian crisis that is accepted by Syria’s people, maintains the country’s unity and stability, restores its security, achieves national reconciliation and sets the stage for the voluntary return of refugees.

Safadi also participated in a meeting of neighbouring countries to Syria that host refugees, attended by the foreign ministers of Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq, which tackled developments to the refugee crisis and ways to address them, as well as the prospects of the refugees’ voluntary return to their country. 

Jordan encourages the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their country and continues to provide them with all it can until they do so, the minister said.

The attending ministers agreed to continue coordination and discussion on developments to the issue of the refugees through meetings to be held between top officials from the four countries, in cooperation with international stakeholder institutions. 

Safadi also held separate meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Mouloud Gawishoglu, Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Alhakim and Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments. 

Safadi also participated in a meeting called for by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and attended by foreign ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Iraq, which tackled tensions in the Arab Gulf and the recent drone attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil facilities. 

During the meeting, Safadi highlighted the Kingdom’s stance in condemnation of the attacks as a “dangerous escalation”, reiterating Jordan’s support to Saudi Arabia with regards to any measures taken to protect the country’s security and stability. 

The minister urged de-escalation of the crisis through dialogue based on the principles of good neighbourly relations and non-interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries, noting that the issue could “explode into a war, catastrophic for the region”. 

Developments to the Palestinian cause were at the forefront during Safadi’s meetings with his counterparts, according to the statement.

Safadi and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde are on Thursday scheduled to co-chair an international conference to rally financial and political support to the UNRWA. 

The meeting is expected to be attended by UN Secretary General António Guterres, President of the United Nations General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, in addition to foreign ministers and representatives from 31 countries and institutions, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

The conference has been coorganised by Jordan and Sweden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.