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AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday received a phone call from Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al Sudani, during which they discussed the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Iraq, as well as current developments in the region.

His Majesty voiced Jordan’s support for Iraq’s efforts in hosting the 34th ordinary session of the Arab Summit, which takes place next month, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The King also expressed Jordan’s readiness to expand cooperation with Iraq and maintain coordination on issues of mutual concern, in the service of Arab causes.

The call also covered ongoing efforts to end the war on Gaza, resume the flow of humanitarian aid, halt the escalating situation in the West Bank, and achieve comprehensive regional calm, the statement said.

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned the closure of the Jerusalem Endowment Fund, an independent Palestinian institution, by Israeli occupation forces.

In a statement, the ministry described the move as a "blatant continuation of Israel’s systematic efforts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem, diminish Palestinian presence, and erase the Arab identity of the occupied city."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah expressed Jordan’s firm rejection of what he called “escalating measures by the extremist Israeli government” aimed at restricting and obstructing the work of international and civil society institutions in the occupied Palestinian territories.

He warned that such actions represent a deliberate attempt to deprive Palestinians of their fundamental rights, including access to education, a dignified life, and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state on their national soil.

The official also urged the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities by pressuring Israel to cease its aggression against the Palestinian people and their institutions. He also called for an immediate end to all violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah received Bahrain Interior Minister Gen. Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa on Monday at Al Husseiniya Palace.

The interior minister conveyed King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s greetings to His Majesty, who asked the minister to express his best wishes to the Bahraini monarch, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The meeting, attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, covered the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Bahrain, as well as current developments in the region.

Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, Interior Minister Mazen Farraya, and Bahrain’s Ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Khalifa bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa attended the meeting.

AMMAN — HRH Prince El Hassan, Chairman of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST), on Monday inaugurated a regional workshop on nuclear security for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), organised by the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) in cooperation with the US Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Addressing the gathering, Prince Hassan emphasised that true security must be grounded in human dignity and sustainable development, particularly in regions along the 35th meridian east, where countries are grappling with wars, political instability and economic crises.

He also stressed that the protection of life and human dignity should not be secondary concerns but fundamental pillars of any enduring security framework.

The Prince called for human-centred policies that focus on stability, objectivity, and sustainability, urging collective action to bridge divides. He also underscored the importance of building trust through meaningful dialogue and cooperation, rather than conflict and division.

"Nuclear security is the most critical issue of our time," he said, highlighting the need for cross-border cooperation to reinforce both international and regional nuclear security.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasised that nuclear security transcends national borders and is crucial for peacebuilding, development, and the peaceful use of nuclear technology in fields such as health, food security, energy and climate change mitigation. "Regional cooperation, such as this workshop, is vital to addressing the nuclear challenges we face," he added.

NTI Co-Chair and former US secretary of energy Ernest Moniz stressed the importance of regional leadership, warning of rapidly evolving risks that necessitate urgent collective action. He called for MENA countries to follow international best practices in managing nuclear facilities, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and adapting to the shifting dynamics of international geopolitics.

Former Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa also called for regional and international cooperation to tackle nuclear challenges. He proposed the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the MENA region, emphasising the need for security and stability in the face of ongoing regional and international conflicts.

JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan highlighted the urgency of addressing nuclear security in the context of rapid geopolitical transformations and emerging technologies, including cybersecurity threats and AI. He called for a collective, transparent approach to nuclear security and the expansion of peaceful nuclear energy applications.

The three-day workshop, which brought together security and energy leaders from over 12 MENA countries, serves as a platform for dialogue, partnership-building and commitment to nuclear security across the region. It is also expected to foster long-term cooperation and ensure sustainable development in the nuclear energy sector.

AMMAN — The Lower House will open a nationwide dialogue with all sectors on the 2025 amendments to the Real Estate Ownership Law, head of the Lower House’s Committee on Economy and Investment Khaled Abu Hassan said on Monday.

Abu Hassan said that the amendments, which sparked controversy within economic sectors and the wider pubic, are currently under review by the Lower House, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He said that an agreement has been reached with the government to open a dialogue with all sectors to clarify the bill’s articles and address any misunderstandings.

Abu Hassan stressed that the draft law would not impose any additional burden on taxpayers, nor would it introduce tax increases; instead, it would entail reductions, as pledged by the prime minister and endorsed by the Lower Chamber.

He added that these discussions would continue over the coming months, and the draft law would be presented to the Lower House during the next House session.

The Cabinet, during a recent session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, endorsed draft amendments to the 2025 Real Estate Ownership Law. 

The Cabinet at the time said that the amendments aimed at “streamlining” land registration procedures and “facilitating” the dissolution of joint ownership.

The amendments grant expanded authority to the Department of Lands and Survey, enabling it to deliver “faster, more efficient services and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.”

The amended bill introduces mechanisms to regulate joint ownership dissolution committees and provides guidelines for determining fair compensation in cases of public expropriation.

It also addresses existing legal gaps by allowing companies, non-Jordanians, and legal entities to acquire property in specific unincorporated areas, which was previously restricted.

Under the new framework, legal entities engaged in lease financing will be able to obtain property permits directly from the Department of Lands and Survey and the Ministry of Finance, eliminating the need for Cabinet approval. 

The move aims to “streamline” procedures and “enhance” investor access to Jordan’s property market.

AMMAN — Workplace accidents and injuries are not just numbers; they represent significant economic and non-material losses for individuals and institutions, according to Tamkeen Organisation for Legal Aid and Human Rights. 

“In Jordan, the financial cost of such incidents is estimated at more than 4.2 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), translating into losses exceeding JD1.25 billion,” Tamkeen said in a statement made available to The Jordan Times.

The organisation added that such costs include medical treatment, hospital stays, and transportation expenses related to injuries.

Despite continuous efforts to improve workplace safety, experts emphasise that current measures are not sufficient to curb the economic and human toll of occupational accidents.

Nada Ali, a labour rights expert, said: “There is a pressing need for enhanced preventive strategies and stricter enforcement of safety regulations. Investing in occupational health and safety is not just a legal obligation; it is an economic necessity.”

On the same note, industrial safety specialist Omar Hilal told The Jordan Times: “The hidden costs, including psychological impact on workers and reputational damage to companies, are even higher than direct medical expenses. Companies must integrate a culture of safety across all operational levels.”

Tamkeen’s latest figures also called for enhanced cooperation between the private sector, labour unions, and regulatory authorities to create safer work environments and decrease the financial burden of accidents.

As the Kingdom aims to enhance its economy, reducing the incidence and impact of workplace injuries could unlock “significant” potential, protect workers’ well-being, and support sustainable growth, experts pointed out.

AMMAN — Interior Minister Mazen Farraya on Monday received his Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Gen. Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and his accompanying delegation.

The two sides discussed aspects of cooperation in security and policing fields, stressing the “deep-rooted” relations between the two kingdoms, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Sheikh Rashid expressed his country's full support of Jordan, lauding measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its national security and reiterating Bahrain's support of Jordan "in all circumstances."

The Bahraini minister was welcomed by Farraya and a number of officials on arrival in Amman earlier on Monday.

AMMAN — The first international conference on "Crisis Management in a Complex Dynamic Environment", organised by the Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah II Academy for Civil Protection, kicked off on Monday.

The event, attended by Public Security Department (PSD) Director Maj. Gen. Obaidallah Maaytah, brought together several local and international experts, academics and decision-makers, including delegations from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, Palestine and Nigeria.

The conference aims to explore the latest strategies and technologies for managing evolving and complex crises, and to boost institutional and national capacities to respond “effectively” in rapidly changing environments, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

In his opening remarks, Maaytah said that the world is witnessing an unprecedented acceleration of political, environmental, technological and social changes, leading to a surge in natural, health and geopolitical crises across all sectors.

He stressed that this evolving reality requires authorities to continuously upgrade crisis management strategies through an integrated system, starting with proactive risk forecasting and mitigation, moving to effective response during crises, and culminating in post-crisis evaluations to enhance future readiness.

Maaytah added that the conference comes in direct response to the increasing complexity of global challenges, highlighting the urgent need for innovative crisis management models that emphasise flexibility, agility and adaptability.

The two-day conference will address several key themes, including risk analysis in changing environments, proactive crisis planning, and the role of technology and artificial intelligence in supporting crisis decision-making.

Specialised research papers and presentations of field experiences from different countries are also scheduled to be featured, promoting the exchange of expertise and enhancing national and international crisis preparedness and response systems.