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AMMAN — The Jordan Association for Restaurants and Sweets Shops Owners (JARSSO) said Monday it will organise inspection visits to schools’ canteens, in cooperation with other concerned parties.

With the new academic year starting Tuesday, the field visits are aimed at ensuring the safety of students, JARSSO President Raed Hamada noted. 

“What we are concerned about is the safety and good health of our students. We don’t want to encounter any food poisoning cases,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

The JARSSO official noted that the inspectors will also check the prices of items sold at these canteens, which are set by the association. 

Hamada said the field visits will be conducted in cooperation with the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation, and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply. 

Mervat Mheirat, director of GAM’s health supervision department, said the municipality annually holds its field visits to private school canteens to ensure students’ safety.

The GAM official said the department is still compiling figures on violations detected last year. 

Jordan Teachers Association Spokesperson Ayman Okour commended the inspection efforts, calling for more strict procedures by concerned parties to ensure the safety of students. 

“We don’t want scheduled visits. We want unannounced visits,” he added. 

AMMAN — A new case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus-related infection was registered in the Kingdom, bringing the overall number of cases registered since 2012 to 18, the Health Ministry reported on Monday.

The 74-year-old patient suffers from diabetes, blood pressure-related diseases and heart problems, according to Mohammad Abdullat, director of the ministry’s communicable disease control department.

Abdullat described the condition of the patient as critical, adding that she is kept in quarantine at the private hospital where she is being treated.

AMMAN — Security forces on Sunday night arrested a man in his twenties for festive firing during a wedding in Muqabalein, the Public Security Department’s (PSD) media centre said Monday.

Security personnel received a tip on the incident and apprehended the man, who was found in possession of a nine-millimetre pistol, the PSD said. The man is being questioned before proceeding with legal and administrative procedures against him. 

AMMAN — The Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by MP Bassam Manasir, met on Monday with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and discussed the latest regional developments.

Discussions addressed the Palestinian issue and the situation in Syria and Iraq. Judeh asserted Jordan’s support for the Palestinians, to arrive at a solution that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

With regard to the crisis in Syria, the minister stressed Jordan’s position in support of a political solution and the importance of resolving the refugee problem. Committee members stressed the importance of continued coordination.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Social Development will hold a regional conference on social accountability in October, Minister Reem Abu Hassan said on Monday.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour is scheduled to attend the conference, which will focus on means to build on accomplishments and face challenges.

The two-day conference, held in cooperation with the Arab Organisation for Social Responsibility will be held from October 27 to 28.

AMMAN — Minister of Health Ali Hiasat on Monday said three comprehensive healthcare centres have been established in Jordan, thanks to a grant from the Korean government.

At a meeting with Ambassador Choi Hong-ghi, the minister commended the distinguished and historic relations between Jordan and South Korea, especially in the health sector. 

The ambassador stressed his government’s commitment to fostering its cooperation with Jordan. He highlighted the importance of Jordan’s participation in the Global Health Security Agenda 2015 High-Level Meeting that will be held in Seoul on September 7.

AMMAN — A three-year old child died on Monday after a sideboard fell on him while he was at home with his family in Zarqa.

According to the Civil Defence Department (CDD) media office, the boy was taken to Zarqa Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The CDD called on families to keep close watch of their children and to make sure that pieces of furniture are properly secured to avert such accidents.

AMMAN — The Civil Defence Department (CDD) on Monday said one man died and 17 were injured in separate traffic accidents.

A 69-year-old man died of severe injuries in Aqaba when his car overturned, CDD said. Seven people were injured in a two-vehicle collision near Al al Bayt University in Mafraq.

In another two-vehicle collision in Irbid, five people were injured and were reported to be in fair condition, while in the governorate’s Huson District, five people were injured when a truck overturned. They were reported to be in fair condition.

AMMAN — Telecom operator company Umniah on Monday paid JD71 million in fees for a frequency bundle in the domain of (10+10) MHz to provide Fourth Generation (4G) services,

President of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Ghazi Jbour said. Umniah was granted the licence to launch the service in June. Jbour said Umniah is the third telecom operator company licensed to offer 4G services, after Zain Jordan and Orange Jordan.

AMMAN — The Higher Education Council held meetings last Thursday and on Monday to discuss the incident of the Jadara University student who spat at a faculty member during a graduation ceremony, according to a council statement issued Monday.

The council condemned such “immoral” behaviour that demeans academics and damages the image of Jordanian higher education.

The Higher Education Council urged Jordanian universities to take all measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Moreover, it said it will follow up on the measures Jadara University has taken and is going to take to hold accountable every person proven involved.