Jordan News UpdatesAmman, Germany Wednesday condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir under the protection of heavily armed forces.
A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry told journalists that the Israeli minister’s storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque is “provocative behaviour that is unacceptable.”
The spokesman urged the Israeli government to stop provocations and abide by international standards related to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Amman, During a session held Wednesday, headed by Lower House Speaker Ahmed Safadi and attended by Cabinet members, the House approved the amended Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) draft law of 2022.
The House okayed the draft law, as referred by its Economy and Investment Committee, after an extensive debate on the bill’s articles.
Per its mandating reasons, foreign companies must initially register at Companies Control Department (CCD) ahead of registering at ASEZA and revoke reference to the social services tax, in line with the abolition of its law, to align ASEZA’s tax system with tax standards and rules.
On the other hand, the House referred “70th” annual report of Audit Bureau of 2021 to its Finance Committee.
Deputy PM and Minister of Local Administration, Tawfiq Krishan, said Prime Minister formed a committee, headed by Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs, to review the Bureau’s reports clarifications, as many were rectified and some others were transferred to the judiciary.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Manama, Prime Minister, Dr. Bishr Khasawneh, on Wednesday arrived in Manama on an official visit, during which he is scheduled to meet with a number of senior Bahraini officials and hold talks on bilateral relations and issues and files of common concern.
PM Khasawneh and Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, will chair meetings of the joint Higher Jordanian-Bahraini Committee on Thursday.
After the meetings of the joint Jordanian-Bahraini Higher Committee, a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding will be signed in the trade, industry, health, education, transportation, tourism and media fields.
The PM is accompanied by ministers of State for Prime Ministry, Ibrahim Jazi; Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research, Azmy Mahafdha, Tourism and Antiquities, Makram Qaisi; Interior Mazen Faraya; Health Firas Hawari; Industry and Labor, Yousef Shamali, and Culture Haifa Najjar.
Upon his arrival at Bahrain Airport, PM was received by Bahraini Foreign Minister / Head of Honorary Escort, Abdullatif Zayani, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Hamad Maliki, and a number of senior Bahraini officials.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Manama, The prep ministerial committee for the meetings of the Jordanian-Bahraini Higher Committee Wednesday agreed in Manama, Bahrain, on mechanisms to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.
The meeting, chaired by Minister of Trade and Minister of Labour Yousef Shamali and Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, is a prep for the Committee’s fifth meeting in Manama on Thursday.
It agreed on the drafts aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation that would be signed after the meetings slated for tomorrow.
Shamali and Alzayani noted the “importance” of raising the level of bilateral relations to progress in various fields and serve common interests.
Shamali said the convening of the Committee meetings is part of the two countries’ efforts to strengthen cooperation and address challenges resulting from the “exceptional” circumstances the world is witnessing and the risks threatening food security and the safety of supply chains.
He noted the “importance” of the industrial partnership between Jordan, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt, aimed at enhancing cooperation and industrial integration in “strategic areas.”
In turn, Alzayani said holding meetings at this time “is of great importance” and reflects keenness to advance cooperation and frame the necessary agreements and memos.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Amman, Ministry of Labor excluded Jordan’s industrial and agricultural sectors and domestic workers from the decision to stop recruitment of expatriate workers.
The ministry continues to stop expat worker recruitment, with exception granted to some sectors, in line with the local market’s manpower needs, its Secretary-General, Farouk Hadidi, said in a press statement on Wednesday.
Hadidi noted the decision to stop expat worker recruitment came to regulate and assess local labor market, address its imbalances due to the presence of unemployed Jordanian workers, whether in professional and vocational areas or university specialties.
He also stressed the need to maintain national workforce training programs in coordination with the private sector, to provide job opportunities in the Jordanian market, and compete with Arab and foreign labor.
On the ministry’s key role in this regard, he said its steps aim to regulate the labor market, set the necessary instructions and take appropriate decisions to find job opportunities to employ Jordanians, in cooperation with the private sector and other concerned stakeholders.
Employment of Jordanians is a priority by activating procedures that curb expat workers recruitment, he said.
Locally, he noted presence of expat workers in a large number caused damage to the organized labor market, decreased job vacancies for Jordanians, and increased unemployment problem, especially in light of the region’s current conditions.
Source: Jordan News Agency
London, The pound sterling Wednesday rose against the dollar, according to British financial centres.
The pound rose 0.7 per cent at a value of $1.2056. The euro also rose 0.5 per cent against the dollar at $1.0603.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Zarqa, The total value of certificates of origin issued by Zarqa Chamber of Industry (ZCI) last year amounted to $1.33 billion.
In statements on Wednesday, ZCI head, Fares Hammouda, said exports of the chamber’s members in Zarqa and Mafraq governorates have shifted from concentration on specific sectors to a “more diversified” stage in the exported products and target markets.
He pointed out that North American markets accounted for 48.2% of total exports in 2022, with a value of $641.6 million, of which $610.5 million were exports to United States and $26.4 million to Canada.
Arab markets accounted for 37.2% of total exports last year, with a value of $494 million, of which $146.4 million went to Saudi Arabia, $115 million to Iraq, and $60 million to Palestine.
Last year, the chamber’s exports to non-Arab Asian countries amounted to $76 million, of which $7 million were exports to India, $6.9 million to Singapore, and $5.4 million to Turkey.
Meanwhile, value of the chamber’s exports to European Union countries last year amounted to $51.9 million, of which $25.9 million went to the Netherlands, $12 million to the United Kingdom, and $3.7 to Greece, while value of exports to non-Arab African countries stood at $4.4 million.
Hammouda said exports of leather and textile industries sector maintained the first place last year worth $718.52 million, followed by catering, foodstuff, agricultural and livestock industries at $179.71 million, construction industries at $145.59 million, engineering, electrical and information technology industries at $89.68 million, and plastic and rubber industries at $60.88 million.
The remaining exports concentrated in chemical industries and cosmetics sector at a value of $58.81 million, therapeutic industries and medical supplies at $45 million, packaging, paper and stationery supplies at $31.11 million and wood and furniture industries at $1.47 million.
Source: Jordan News Agency
New York, The UN Wednesday said the Security Council is holding a session Thursday to discuss the tension in occupied Jerusalem after a far-right Israeli minister stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The UAE, the only Arab member of the UN Security Council, had called for the session to be public and open, where member states could participate and make official statements.
Source: Jordan News Agency