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AMMAN — In a meeting chaired by Minister of Labor Khaled Bakkar on Monday, the Tripartite Committee for Labor Affairs unanimously agreed to raise the minimum wage for private sector workers from JD260 to JD290, effective January 1, 2025.

The new wage will remain in effect until December 31, 2027. The decision is designed to enhance workers' living standards while addressing the economic challenges faced by employers, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti on Monday received a US delegation led by former commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. Joseph Votel.

During the meeting, held at the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), Huneiti stressed the importance of further enhancing the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the US, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He stressed the need for joint international efforts to ensure peace and security at the international level, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The delegates, accompanied by the US defence attaché and senior Jordanian military officials, were briefed on the ongoing modernisation efforts of JAF being made to address current and future security threats in the region.

Gen. Votel and his accompanying delegates expressed their gratitude for Jordan's critical role in maintaining regional stability, commending His Majesty King Abdullah's leadership and vision in promoting regional security and peace.

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez and Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani on Monday discussed the Iraq-Jordan oil pipeline project.

Fayez stressed the pipeline project's strategic importance, highlighting its potential to boost economic cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

“Our relations are built on mutual respect and shared interests, serving the aspirations of our peoples and reinforcing Arab solidarity,” Fayez said.

He also reiterated Jordan’s commitment to ongoing cooperation with Iraq across various sectors to support the country's unity and security.

Fayez also called for deepening economic ties through joint investments, expediting agreed projects, and revitalising trade relations.

Addressing regional challenges, Fayez warned against efforts to fragment the Arab world, likening the situation to a "new Sykes-Picot phase" driven by international and regional interests.

He also condemned Israeli aggression against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, reiterating Jordan’s firm stance against any resolution to the Palestinian cause at Jordan’s expense.

Fayez also stressed Jordan’s dedication to preserving Syria’s unity and stability, which he deemed essential for regional security.

He also denounced Israeli incursions into Syrian territory, particularly in the buffer zone near the Golan Heights, calling for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Mashhadani reiterated the call for Arab unity in addressing regional challenges, emphasising that stronger political, economic, and security ties among Arab nations would counter external threats.

He also commended Jordan’s historic support for Iraq during its most difficult periods,  acknowledging the symbolic significance of choosing Jordan for his first official visit.

"The visit underscores the strong ties between our nations and Jordan's unwavering support for Iraq's stability and security," he said.

Also on Monday, Lower House Speaker Ahmed Safadi met with his Iraqi counterpart Mahmoud Mashhadani, to discuss enhancing parliamentary coordination and addressing regional issues to advance the shared interests of both nations.

During the meeting, Safadi and Mashhadani reiterated their commitment to boosting Jordan-Iraq ties, building on the outcomes of a recent meeting in Amman between His Majesty King Abdullah and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani.

The speakers also stressed the importance of joint efforts to counter regional instability, prevent escalation, and mitigate the risks of broader conflicts.

Expressing solidarity with Syria, the speakers underscored their support for its security and stability, emphasising respect for the will of its people.

Safadi also reiterated Jordan’s unwavering support for Syria’s unity and security, stressing the need to uphold its sovereignty.

Safadi and Mashhadani also called for greater international efforts to end the Israeli aggression on Gaza, deliver emergency aid, and address violent settler actions in the West Bank, including violations at Jerusalem’s holy sites.

They also highlighted the importance of enhancing investments in energy, transport, agriculture, education, tourism, and infrastructure.

Safadi also emphasised the role of parliaments in removing barriers to economic integration and promoting trilateral cooperation with Egypt.

Mashhadani commended Jordan’s consistent support for Iraq during critical times, describing Jordan as Iraq’s “first official destination” due to its strategic importance.

He also expressed Iraq’s commitment to boosting bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between parliamentary committees.

“Iraq has always benefited from Jordan’s steadfast support during difficult times,” Mashhadani said, urging Arab nations to unite in addressing common challenges, particularly those in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.

AMMAN — Jordan on Monday condemned the Israeli government's approval of a plan to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights, describing the move as a "reinforcement of the occupation and a blatant violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah stressed the importance of preserving Syria's unity and territorial integrity, according to a ministry statement.  

Qudah reiterated that the Golan Heights is an occupied Syrian Arab land, stressing the importance of ending the occupation.

He also said that all unilateral Israeli measures that aim at creating new facts on the ground require a clear international stance that condemns such measures and compel Israel, as an occupying power, to abide by the principles of the international law.

Israel's government on Sunday approved a plan to double the population of the annexed Golan Heights, just days after its troops seized a UN-monitored buffer zone bordering Syria as rebel forces moved on Damascus.

The Golan Heights is a mountainous plateau at Syria's southwestern edge, most of which was captured by Israel during the June War of 1967 and later annexed.
It is separated from the Syrian side by the UN-patrolled buffer zone.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture, together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), launched a Joint Programme (JP), funded by the Joint SDG Fund, on Transforming Jordan’s agrifood system towards greater sustainability and resilience. 

The Joint SDG Fund’s approach is catalytic, aiming to leverage systemic change through integrated economic, social and environmental policy and strategic investments, which can attract public and private financing to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

The JP focuses on developing the capacity of the government to operationalise systems-based programmes and improve the sustainability performance and resilience of the agrifood system in Jordan in light of key challenges, including threats of climate change, food insecurity, and considering the urgent need for inclusion of women, youth and refugees.

The JP is closely aligned with existing high-level plans at the national level, the National Food Security Strategy and Action Plans, in particular, as well as Jordan’s Food Systems Pathway and forthcoming Food Systems Transformation Roadmap. 

Between now and August 2025, the JP will evaluate the current agrifood systems context, as well as implementation of the National Food Security Strategy Action Plan, to identify entry points (value chains, business models or market systems) with potential for upgrading that also address climate resilience and inclusion of vulnerable groups. 

The JP will develop upgrading strategies for three selected entry points, each with a clear vision, action plan, investment plan and financing solution, as well as monitoring frameworks linked to a national system that oversees the performance and impacts of food systems transformation. 

A multistakeholder collaborative approach will be adopted throughout, including training and experiential learning elements to develop institutional capacity among key stakeholders in close collaboration with the Food Security Council.

Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat stressed the need to shift towards a more sustainable and resilient agrifood system to ensure food security and enhance the ability to face the growing regional challenges considering the limited natural resources, especially water and the increasing effects of climate change. 

He added that Jordan has made intensive efforts and taken many steps and measures to provide sufficient food for the population by launching the first National Food Security Strategy 2021-2030 and its action plan, in addition to adopting paths to transform food systems into more efficient and sustainable systems.

“This Joint Programme builds on FAO’s stakeholders and enhance capacity, encourage knowledge and experience exchange among stakeholders, and promote policy and effective actions towards development of a sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood system in Jordan,” explained FAO Representative in Jordan Nabil Assaf. 

“We are pleased to collaborate with UNIDO on this joint programme, with the Ministry of Agriculture, and with full engagement of the Food Security Council,” Assaf added.

UNIDO Country Representative in Jordan Sulafa Mdanat said: “UNIDO’s intervention will focus on leveraging the power of value addition, brought by food processing, in transforming food systems outcomes towards achieving their full potential. We are keen to support the Government of Jordan in this journey, and FAO remains a natural partner in this regard.”

AMMAN — The Anti-Narcotic Department (AND) on Sunday arrested 46 wanted suspects, including three who allegedly had ties to regional gangs, in connection with 11 illicit drug cases, in various parts of the Kingdom in the past few days, according to police.

One of the main cases involved three dangerous suspects who allegedly had ties with regional criminal gangs, according to Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi.

“We received information that the three suspects were hiding in the Ruwaished area so a special force raided their premises and arrested them,” Sartawi told The Jordan.

The arresting force reportedly found weapons and illicit drugs in their possession, the police official added.

Meanwhile, the law-enforcement agency conducted a raid in Aqaba where nine people were arrested in two separate incidents, according to Sartawi.

Police seized 12 kilogrammes of marijuana in their position, the police official said.

Meanwhile, AND conducted several raids in Irbid, Ajloun, Mafraq and Northern Badia which resulted in the arrest of several suspects, including two who were classified as armed and dangerous, Sartawi added.

Police seized various amounts of illicit drugs and weapons, he added.

All suspects were referred to the State Security Court prosecution office for further questioning and indictment, according to a statement by the Public Security Directorate.

Earlier in the year, AND officials said approximately 23,000 drug-related cases were recorded in Jordan in 2023, involving more than 35,000 individuals, with about 13,000 suspects apprehended for alleged drug trafficking or distribution.

Officials said that the seized quantities of drugs in 2023 in cooperation with the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, customs, and other security agencies were approximately 6,200 kilogrammes of hashish, 6.5 kilogrammes of heroin, around 19 million Captagon pills, 141.5 kilogrammes of cocaine, 15 kilogrammes of Joker powder, and about 70.5 kilogrammes of crystal meth.

AMMAN – Jordan’s tourism sector generated $6.7 billion in revenue during the first eleven months of 2024, reflecting a 3.1 per cent decline compared with the same period in 2023, the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) reported on Monday.

The decline coincided with a 4.9 per cent drop in overall visitor numbers, although certain market segments demonstrated resilience, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Revenue from Jordanian expatriates rose by 7.4 per cent, and earnings from Arab tourists saw an increase of 12.5 per cent, while revenues from other key markets experienced drops, with European tourism revenue falling by 55.4 per cent, US tourists by 37.4 per cent, and revenue from other nationalities decreasing by 17.8 per cent.

The data also highlighted a rise in outbound tourism, with Jordanians spending $1.8 billion abroad, marking a 3.3 per cent increase from the previous year.

The CBJ also reported a 3.1 per cent rise in remittances from Jordanian expatriates, reaching $2.952 billion by the end of October, up from $2.862 billion in the same period of 2023.

AMMAN — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday underlined the "EU's full support for Jordan amid current regional challenges."

Following her meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah, von der Leyen outlined plans for enhanced EU-Jordan cooperation, particularly regarding Syria's political transition process, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

"We will intensify and deliver humanitarian assistance through Jordan and support the early recovery of basic services and infrastructure," von der Leyen said in a statement carried by Petra.

The European Commission said on its website that it is launching a new Humanitarian Air Bridge operation for those most in need in Syria, to deliver emergency healthcare and other essential supplies, as well as increasing its humanitarian funding.

The Commission said it has also mobilised an additional 4 million euros to address the most urgent humanitarian needs of people, bringing total humanitarian support to 163 million euros in 2024.

"This new funding aims to scale up humanitarian assistance channelled through EU humanitarian partners already operating in Syria to ensure critical aid is provided swiftly. This includes the provision of trauma kits, support for critical gaps in healthcare facilities, emergency shelter kits and sanitation support. It also includes funding for the distribution of food parcels to 61,500 people in northern Syria."

The Commission said that the EU and its member states have mobilised more than 33.3 billion euros over the past 13 years in humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation assistance, supporting Syrians both inside the country and across the region.