Category: General

Amman: Social Security Corporation (SSC) announced allocation of 948 natural death pension salaries during the past year 2023, bringing the cumulative number to 24,509 at end of last year.

In a press statement Tuesday, SSC said the entitled beneficiary of this retirement pension must have paid actual subscriptions for a period no less than 24 contributions, including 6 continuous payments, adding that death must occur this time to benefit from this service.

The SSC added that this salary is allocated to the eligible heirs of the corporation-insured person from the beginning of the month of the beneficiary’s death and a funeral expenses allowance of JD700 is also paid to the family.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Leaders International for Economic Development (LI) and the Crown Prince Foundation (CPF) signed on Tuesday a collaboration agreement to support the Corporate Entrepreneurship Responsibility Alliance project “CERA,” funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jordan. This agreement reflects the commitment of both organizations to promoting social responsibility and supporting local supply chains in the Kingdom.

The aim of the agreement, which was signed by Ll’s Country Manager, Hamzeh Shamaileh, and the CPF’s CEO, Tamam Mango, is to support the four-year CERA project, which focuses on motivating major Jordanian companies to shift their purchases of intermediate goods from the global market to the local market. To achieve this, the project will enhance the entrepreneurial responsibility of large companies and attract them to work with smaller Jordanian suppliers.

Simultaneously, the project will contribute to building the necessary human, technical, and financial capacities for owners o
f micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to enable them to respond to the needs of both the Jordanian and global industries.

“In this strategic collaboration, we are thrilled about the potential impact,” expressed Mango. “Our aim through this partnership is to advance economic and social objectives, with a particular emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. At the Foundation, we prioritize fostering strong business partnerships. We are committed to enhancing cooperation with various stakeholders. We firmly believe that the synergy between organizations not only benefits our youth but also enriches society as a whole.”

Expressing his positive vision towards the current cooperation with the CPF, Shamaileh said: “This collaboration is an important milestone towards enhancing the economic and social benefits of the CERA project. Through joint efforts, we aspire to be an engine of positive change at the level of Jordanian MSMEs and Jordanian companies. This cooperation will contribu
te to solving many challenges, such as access to finance, developing capabilities and qualifications, and more broadly, promoting the sustainable development of targeted companies.”

Shamaileh predicted that the CERA project will contribute to strengthening the links of local companies, enabling them to effectively integrate into international supply chains and develop specialized products, as well as increase operational efficiency and productivity in innovative ways.

According to a statement, the organization said that this agreement reflects shared optimism and a strong commitment to achieving a positive impact through collaboration between the two organizations in support of the Dutch-funded CERA project. Through this effective partnership, it expects to see a promising future where local companies, through assistance, play a prominent role in the international arena, creating balance and sustainability in the business sector.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Abu Dhabi: Jordan is set to participate in the UNESCO World Conference on Culture and Arts Education organized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DTC), which brings together more than 190 Ministers of Education and Culture from around the world with the aim of adopting the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education and promoting culture and arts in schools.

In a speech at the conference, Minister of Culture Haifa Najjar stressed the importance of the conference as a rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that define this region. Our commitment to cultural and artistic education aligns with the principles of inclusivity and understanding that form the core of this global conference.

Najjar said that “our meeting today is not only a testament to the power of cooperation, dialogue, and shared commitment, but also a celebration of our collective dedication to shaping a future that is resilient, equitable, and sustainable.”

She emphasized the significance of the conference on cultural an
d arts education in guiding the course of our shared global future. This fully aligns with His Majesty King Abdullah II’s description of education as “the cornerstone of building the future of any society” and His Majesty’s vision for incorporating the cultural dimension into education. In response to this vision, efforts have been made to shape enabled individuals and introduce the cultural dimension to our educational institutions.

She called for the integration of arts and culture into many other subjects, such as history and science. This approach ensures that students understand their cultural heritage and its relationship to different disciplines, which promotes a more inclusive global outlook.

On bridging the gap between respect and social engagement, the minister said, “While we have been successful in implementing international programs that propel our students to Ivy League universities, we must acknowledge that there is a gap in our educational system. Despite these achievements, our schools have
not yet emphasized the importance of building meaningful connections within our society. It is essential to bridge this gap by prioritizing the integration of cultural and social education, to nurture students who are not only academically successful, but also deeply rooted in their communities.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at the American University of Beirut, and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Regional Peace and Security Project, held the second edition of the Beirut Security Debates (BSD) at IFI. The event, titled “The Gaza War and the Regional Turmoil in the Middle East,” gathered local, regional, and international scholars, experts, and policymakers to analyze, discuss, and debate critical questions on security-related and geopolitical issues at this critical juncture for the region.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Joseph Bahout, IFI director, noted that the initial focus of the conference was to address security and stability in the Middle East. However, unforeseen challenges, such as the Ukraine war and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, have significantly altered the international order and posed new threats to global stability that such a conference cannot ignore. This has also imposed the necessity of examining not only hard security, he noted, but
also the intricate dynamics of soft and human security in comprehending the global system and its developments.

Meanwhile, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Regional Peace and Security Project Director Marcus Schneider emphasized the importance of engaging in dialogue through a platform like the Beirut Security Debates, particularly in such challenging times. While acknowledging the disconnect between political discourse in Europe and the Middle East, Schneider highlighted the responsibility to promote alternative voices and break one-sided discourses, a role that an institution like FES can play.

The conference featured panel discussions that dealt with the Middle East after October 7, whether the Middle East would set the stage for the next Cold War in a multipolar world, as well as re-visited the implications of Saudi Arabia’s rapprochement with Iran and normalization with Israel given the current regional context. At the same time, a session was dedicated to the situation on Lebanon’s southern border follo
wing the war in Gaza, with a focus on the humanitarian crisis and the question of human security.

The full recording of the conference and its report is available via IFI’s YouTube channel.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Amman: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has appealed to countries that have suspended their support to reconsider their decision, so that the agency does not have to take drastic measures to reduce its operations in March, including its operations in the Gaza Strip.

“The suspension of funding by 16 donor countries to the agency following allegations against some UNRWA employees in Gaza could deprive the agency of more than 51 percent of its expected income for 2024, which puts the critical humanitarian response in Gaza, healthcare, education, relief, social services, and economic support for the Palestine refugee community in general in the region, including Jordan, at great risk,” UNRWA’s Director of Communications, Juliette Touma, said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Touma warned of a famine in northern Gaza, which is barely receiving aid after the closure of the Kerem Abu Salem crossing for six days, pointing out that there are many restrictions
on the entry of aid. Before the war, 500 trucks entered the Strip, and now there are 100 trucks at best.

Regarding the situation in Rafah, Touma said, “We need at least a humanitarian truce, and the fear in Rafah is currently increasing steadily in light of the presence of more than 1.4 million displaced people there with a lack of infrastructure and a sad humanitarian situation.”

She underlined that UNRWA was the backbone of aid in Gaza even before the war, and it employs about 13,000 employees, 4,000 of them on the front lines, in the field of food and healthcare in mobile clinics and water and sanitation services, adding that 156 employees have been martyred since the outbreak of the war.

UNRWA’s Director of Affairs in Jordan, Olaf Becker, said, “We are deeply concerned about the suspension of UNRWA funding, and if the current situation remains unchanged, we face uncertainty about our ability to continue providing all of our services.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

Johannesburg, The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa said that it had submitted an urgent request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel’s intention to expand its military offensive in the densely overcrowded southern Gaza city of Rafah.

The Presidency affirmed that it urgently called the court to halt the unbearable violations committed against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency