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AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Wednesday visited the Public Security Department (PSD) to follow up on His Majesty King Abdullah’s directives on enhancing road safety.

During a meeting with PSD Director Maj. Gen. Fadel Hmoud, the Crown Prince conveyed King Abdullah’s greetings and pride in security agencies, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The Crown Prince stressed the need for measures to reduce traffic accidents, emphasising that Jordanians’ lives are precious and that the responsibility of protecting them is shared by all, including security agencies, institutions and the public.

Crown Prince Hussein expressed appreciation for the efforts of PSD personnel and the responsibility they shoulder in carrying out their daily tasks, as traffic incidents affect every Jordanian household.

The Crown Prince called for stepping up cooperation to reduce the number of road accidents, adding that he has too often paid condolences to families of young Jordanians who died in traffic accidents.

Crown Prince Hussein also urged the PSD to continue implementing its plans to ensure public safety, commending their efforts in this regard, the statement said.

During the visit, the Crown Prince was briefed on the PSD’s development and modernisation plans, as well as the latest figures on road deaths, injuries and damages.

For his part, PSD Director Maj. Gen. Hmoud noted that His Majesty's directives and the attention given to road safety by the Crown Prince motivate and support PSD personnel as they work with various partners to develop a traffic safety strategy, according to the statement. 

Maj. Gen. Hmoud said the PSD will launch a public awareness campaign to promote traffic safety.

The Crown Prince’s visit also included a tour of an exhibition that houses the latest equipment and technology introduced to traffic policing in order to enhance traffic control, enabling PSD departments to carry out their duties effectively. 

According to PSD statistics, there were 107,489 traffic accidents during the first eight months of 2019, resulting in 417 deaths and 11,477 injuries.

AMMAN — The first of the daily 10,000-barrel Iraqi crude oil shipments arrived in the Kingdom on Wednesday, transported by land as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the two countries last February. 

“The arrival of the first Iraqi oil trucks indicates the progress of economic cooperation between Jordan and Iraq to a new stage that serves the joint economic benefits of the two countries and their people,” Energy Minister Hala Zawati said in a press conference following the arrival of the shipment, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The oil, which was loaded at the Baiji station in Kirkuk on Saturday, arrived on Wednesday at Jordan’s Petroleum Refinery Company in Zarqa. 

Under the MoU, signed by both countries on February 2, Jordan would receive 10,000 barrels of Iraqi crude oil daily with a discount of $16 from the price of Brent Crude per barrel, to cover the difference of transport costs and deviations in standards.

More than 200 trucks, 100 from each country, including individually  and corporately-owned trucks, are participating in the transport process, the Energy Ministry said in a statement.

Under the MoU signed among a number of landmark agreements between the two countries in February, Iraqi oil covering 7 per cent of the Kingdom’s daily needs of oil would be exported from Baiji in Iraq to the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company.

AMMAN — A shipment of radioactively contaminated pipes, with excess levels of Radium 226, was returned to its country of origin on Tuesday after arriving at the Kingdom’s border, the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) said on Tuesday.

The shipment seized and sent back by EMRC personnel weighed approximately 23,500kg and consisted of metal pipes of various sizes that upon inspection were found to be acutely contaminated with Radium 226, the entry of which is prohibited under regulations, EMRC Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiyari said in a statement by the EMRC. 

According to Hiyari, the EMRC adheres to a set protocol when testing for radioactive contamination, pointing to the use of paraphernalia, which detect radiation levels and their sources at border entrances and exits.

The EMRC monitors border operations through the operations room located in the monitoring and emergency centre at the commission, Hiyari said, adding that the centre operates around-the-clock to provide technical support and follow up on alerts from vehicles that may have committed violations. 

Hiyari noted that the EMRC, through its legally mandated role, monitors radiation levels to ensure the safety of products that enter, pass through and exit Jordan.

With the help of specialised devices and electronic gates used to detect radiation, the EMRC works to combat the illicit trade of radioactive or nuclear material that could threaten the Kingdom’s security. 

The EMRC possesses 66 radiation-detection gates that cover all border crossings, whether aerial, land or maritime. 

In 2018, EMRC personnel implemented around 2.4 million inspections of radiation at border crossings. 

Three shipments that showed radioactive readings exceeding the acceptable rates have been seized and shipped back to their countries of origin, in accordance with protocol. 

Farouq Hiari said that the commission in 2018 finished 29,107 transactions and granted 444 permits for importing, transporting and re-exporting radiation devices and radioactive material, in addition to issuing 872 licences for institutions working in radiology, and 1,437 personal licences for workers in the sector, including 45 for workers at the Jordan Research and Training Reactor, according to a 2018 EMRC statement.

AMMAN — Urging students not to attend schools is against the law, Education Ministry Spokesperson Walid Jallad stressed on Wednesday, as teachers were set to hold a demonstration midday Thursday in front of the Prime Ministry near Fourth Circle.

With a basic demand of a 50-per cent raise for teachers, the sit-in, which is planned during school hours, was called for by JTA former president Ahmad Hajaya, who died in a road accident on Friday.

Jallad highlighted the importance of adhering to the regulations issued by the ministry that call for abiding by the school days, according to a ministry statement. 

The spokesperson reiterated that Thursday is a school day for all schools across the Kingdom and not attending schools would hinder the educational process.

Education is a fundamental right of students that the Constitution guarantees, the ministry official said, stressing that nobody has the right to force students to miss a school day or parents not to send their children to schools.  

He added that the ministry is the sole entity with the authority to decide on designating school days. 

Jordan Teachers Association (JTA) Spokesperson Nouriddin Nadim said that the teachers’ sit-in will be held as scheduled on Thursday at 12 noon in front of the Prime Ministry at the Fourth Circle, refuting reports about a change in venue, according to the syndicate’s website.

Nadim expressed hope that “reason will prevail, and the government will not close roads and harm the interests of people, hindering the constitutional right of teachers to express their opinion”.

Meanwhile, Jallad said the government is committed to the education professional by-law that has been approved through amendments agreed upon by the former JTA council.

He noted that the bylaw links the teachers’ allowance to performance, where the allowance can reach up to 250 per cent, adding that the 50 per cent raise called for by the syndicate would cost the Treasury some JD112 million. 

AMMAN — Executive Director of Tamkeen Centre, a civil society institution, Linda Alkalash, on Monday initiated a petition to be signed by anyone who wants certain amendments to the Social Security Corporation (SSC) by-law for 2019 to be scrapped. 

The petition came in light of the joint parliamentary session that will take place on Thursday to settle dispute over one amendment about including MPs and Senators in the SSC old-age, disability and death insurances, which the Lower House approved but the Upper House rejected in their separate sessions. 

"The petition focuses on the amendment that prevents those under the age of 28 in enterprises registered after the ratification of the amendments and with less than 25 employees, for five years, from joining the old-age or retirement insurance," Alkalash told The Jordan Times over the phone on Wednesday.

"This is unfair to them and some companies might close up after five years and open again under a different name to keep avoiding payment of this insurance for employees under the age of 28," she continued.

Under the amendments, the establishments will still commit to paying the contributions to disability and death insurances at a rate of 1 per cent of the insured's wages, subject to deductions, the workers would remain covered by remaining insurances applicable under the law and the provisions would all be automatically cancelled after the employees turn 28.

The petition said that this segment will be deprived of an important and basic part of social protection standards, which will also negatively affect their pensions.

It also highlighted how some companies might find loopholes to benefit from the amendment at the expense of their workers. 

The amendment that calls for including parliamentarians in the SSC insurance is referred to in the petition, saying: "The amendment constitutes a violation to Jordan’s legislations and to the Social Security Law itself as it specifically defines the categories that are included in it and the list does not include Members of Parliament."

Alkalash said that MPs and Senators are not considered employees and thus "do not receive salaries from the Civil Service Bureau", which means Parliament should not cover the expense of their SSC subscription.

"It should be noted in this regard that the current Social Security Law allows Members of Parliament to register under the umbrella of social security by paying 17.5 per cent of their salaries as their own contribution," the petition said.

The petition invites everyone to join in demanding that Parliament renounce these amendments, which they describe as a setback in promoting social protection.

Director of the Phonix Centre Ahmad Awad also told The Jordan Times on Wednesday that the centre signed the petition, adding that they "worked hard" together with partner civil institutions to prevent some of the amendments from taking place, because they “distort” the law and negatively impact social protection. 

Awad said that the government also wanted to cancel early retirement but they ended up making the early retirement age for men 55 instead of 50, and 52 instead of 45 for women, which the centre believes is not right.

Awad said that many early retirees choose that path because their salary is low and they wish to work somewhere else to start having the pension and another salary.

The centre called for increasing salaries and reviewing wage policies to encourage people to stay at work instead of choosing early retirement. 

Referring to the amendments allowing using some of the SSC money to open nurseries in the private sector, the director said it is "utilising the SSC money in an improper place, because the Labour Law, Article 72, stipulates that any company with employees who have over 15 children, the owners, should facilitate a nursery".

He added: "They could not impose this, so they are going to make the SSC spend money on nurseries, and that would be money paid for a purpose not aligned with the SSC's goals."

On Thursday, the joint parliamentary session is scheduled to focus mainly on the issue of including the MPs and Senators in SSC insurance, which the petition and the civil society institutions reject. 

AMMAN — Minister of State for Media Affairs Jumana Ghunaimat on Wednesday stressed the importance of coordination and cooperation between Jordan and Iraq in implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

Ghunaimat, who is also head of the ministerial women’s empowerment committee, made her remarks while participating in a meeting for the exchange of expertise between Jordan and Iraq as well as the funding and implementation of the national plan to activate Resolution 1325 in Iraq, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

Jordan has taken several measures to carry out the resolution through a government plan made in coordination with the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) and in cooperation with donors. 

Ghunaimat highlighted that the ministerial committee for women’s empowerment, which has been restructured under her leadership, seeks to design a 2020-2025 national strategy on the empowerment of women in cooperation with ministries and public and civil society institutions. 

The strategy is scheduled for completion by the end of this year, the minister said. 

She shed light on a number of challenges that Arab women face and commended the efforts of Jordan and Iraq in finding effective solutions, according to Petra. 

JNCW Security General Salma Nims briefed attendees on Jordan’s democratic experience as well as developments pertaining to the political participation of women. 

Nims highlighted that the Lower House has issued various legislations for the empowerment of women, in addition to making amendments to others that discriminated against them.

Amina Baghdad, head of the higher commission for the empowerment of Iraqi women, said Iraq looks forward to benefitting from Jordan’s expertise in implementing Resolution 1325, as well as to joint coordination to uplift Iraqi women.  

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Iraqi counterpart Mohammad Alhakim on Wednesday discussed measures taken to boost the growing partnership between the two countries and expand cooperation in all fields.  

During a phone call, the two sides stressed the importance of enhancing economic cooperation and partnership in all areas to achieve growth and prosperity, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The ministers also went over regional developments as part of their coordination to overcome challenges to greater regional stability and security, Petra added. 

AMMAN — Brazil has not made the decision to shift its embassy to Jerusalem, Brazilian Ambassador to Jordan Francisco Carlos Soares Luz said on Wednesday.

During a press conference on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and celebrating the 35th anniversary of opening the two countries' embassies, in addition to Brazil marking its national day, the envoy expressed Brazil's support to the two-state solution through conducting negotiations, voicing gratitude for the Kingdom’s central efforts in sustaining regional security and stability, along with countering terrorism. 

The ambassador revealed that economic and trade cooperation between Jordan and Brazil has registered "tangible improvements" with an increase of 20 per cent in the first half of this year, expecting this year's trade volume to reach $300 million, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

A defence cooperation agreement will be signed, he added, highlighting the Jordanian-Brazilian cooperation in countering terrorism.

Touching on tourism, the diplomat said that the number of Brazilians who visited Jordan reached 15,000, pointing out that the television in Brazil, with more than 30 million viewers, has promoted Jordan's tourism potentials.

To celebrate Brazil's national day, the embassy has implemented a number of cultural initiatives, which will be concluded in a bazaar to be held next Saturday at the embassy in Amman, he added.

About 14 million Arabs live in Brazil, making up 7 per cent of the population, he said noting that the number of Jordanians in Brazil has reached some 3,000, which is the same as the number of members of the Brazilian community in the Kingdom.

The diplomat also drew attention to “exaggerated and misleading information” spread about Amazon fires, highlighting that Brazil has experienced "more dangerous fires" and the situation in other countries is worse. 

He said that “exaggerated attention” has been allocated to the Amazon, underlining that his country is ready to implement serious measures to prevent Amazon rainforest degradation.

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Wednesday opened the Jordan Economic Forum at the Dead Sea.

The forum under the theme "economic growth, creating job opportunities and moving towards the objectives of sustainable development" was organised by the Lower House, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The two-day forum aims at supporting dialogue among MPs, the government and the private sector's representatives, along with enhancing Parliament's role in facilitating following up the outcomes of the London Initiative and reform programme, implementing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, as well as bolstering the Lower House's legislative, oversight and representative roles.

During the opening ceremony attended by Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh and a number of ministers, MPs, as well as representatives of the private sector, Razzaz stressed that the London initiative proved that Jordan, under His Majesty's leadership, has managed to deal with the challenges that resulted in economic collapses. 

The Kingdom's economy has achieved a growth average of 2 per cent during the previous years, in comparison with the region's growth of 1 per cent, he said, highlighting the "encouraging" indicators achieved by the economy.

Presenting these indicators, Razzaz said that local exports have increased by 4.3 per cent during the first half of this year in comparison with the same period in 2018, adding that the Central Bank of Jordan's reserves have gone up by 6.4 per cent during the January-July period to reach $12.2 billion, in comparison with $11.5 billion during the same period last year.

Tourism revenues increased by 8 per cent, he said, noting that the Kingdom's ranking on the sustainable development index has improved 10 places compared with the last year, and adding that income tax revenues climbed to JD41 million during August, while they reached JD30 million in August, 2018.

During the same month, collected sales taxes reached JD330 million, in comparison with JD261 million collected in August 2018, he said.

Tax revenues during the January-August period amounted to JD2.824 billion, in comparison with JD2.788 billion during the same period in 2018, Petra added.

In cooperation with the Lower House, a number of decisions and legislations during the remaining months of this year, will be made towards self-reliance, which is no longer a luxury, but an option we must all commit to, Razzaz said.

Stressing the importance of joint work, the premier said "our roles are different but complementary", expressing thanks to the Lower House's efforts to hold the forum, while praising the timing of the conference.

AMMAN — The Cassation Court has overturned an October Criminal Court decision sentencing a man to one year in prison after convicting him of murdering his brother in December 2017.

The Criminal Court handed the defendant the reduced sentence after determining that he killed his brother by beating him on his head with a wooden stick on December 16. The victim died almost two weeks later from the injuries he sustained to his head.

The tribunal also amended the manslaughter charges to a misdemeanour when issuing the sentence "because the defendant committed the murder in a moment of rage to defend himself".

However, the Court of Cassation ruled that the defendant's charge should be beating to death and not a misdemeanour and returned the case file to the Criminal Court for further action. 

"It was proven from the case that the victim did not commit any act that could be dangerous or unlawful, and therefore, the defendant should receive a higher punishment," court papers said.

Court documents said on the day of the incident the victim's mother contacted the defendant to inform him that she had had a fight with her son.

The defendant returned home and found his brother drunk and engaged in a heated argument with him, according to court papers.

“The defendant beat up the victim with a wooden stick and left,” court papers said.

The victim was rushed by his family to a nearby hospital but he went into coma and died on September 30, court papers added.

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