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AMMAN — The case of the recent silos explosion in Aqaba has been referred to the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Monday.

The explosion, which took place on May 14, has left six dead and four injured, as several contracting companies were demolishing construction sites at the premises.

Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) has issued a statement stating that the cause of the explosion was due to “a spark from iron wielding or another electric source”, adding that ASEZA closed down the premises to allow rescue teams and investigators quick and easy access to the area.

In previous remarks to The Jordan Times, ASEZA Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh said the prosecutor tasked with investigating the incident charged a contracting and sub-contracting company that were tasked with demolishing the old port with causing the death and harm of individuals.

“The investigations indicated that these two companies failed to adopt the required safety measure in accordance with their contracts,” Shraideh said.

AMMAN — Border Guards on Sunday arrested two persons, who reportedly attempted to cross the borders into Syria to Join the Daesh terrorist group, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Monday.

An official source from the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) said that initial investigations showed that the suspects support Daesh ideology and had plans to carry out terrorist attacks  including stabbing and using Molotov cocktails against security personnel.

They were referred to the concerned agencies for further investigations.

AMMAN — Jordan is closely following up on developments in the south of Syria, a government official said on Monday.

“We are monitoring the developments in the southern parts of Syria and we are prepared to protect our interests and national security,” the source, who preferred anonymity, told The Jordan Times.

He said that Jordan started direct contact with the US and Russia regarding the developments in the area, which is designated as a de-escalation zone under a deal reached between Amman and the two major powers.

“Jordan wants the de-escalation zone created in south of Syria to remain intact and we believe that these zones have led to positive results and helped reach a ceasefire in Syria,” the official added.

Jordan’s remarks on Monday came a few days after the US warned Damascus it would take “firm” action if the government there violates a ceasefire deal, after Syrian aircraft dropped leaflets on a southern province ahead of an expected offensive.

On Friday, the US State Department issued a statement saying it was “concerned” by the reports and that the area in question was within the boundaries of a de-escalation zone it had negotiated with Russia and Jordan last year.

“We also caution the Syrian regime against any actions that risk broadening the conflict or jeopardise the ceasefire,” said spokeswoman Heather Nauert, adding that the ceasefire had been re-affirmed by President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Vietnam in November. 

“As a guarantor of this de-escalation area with Russia and Jordan, the United States will take firm and appropriate measures in response to Assad regime violations,” she added.

The tripartite deal that was reached in Amman last year entailed a ceasefire along a line of contact agreed upon between Syrian government forces and associated troops on one side and rebels on the other.

The three parties agreed that the ceasefire aims to permanently de-escalate the tensions in southern Syria, ending acts of hostility, restoring stability and allowing free access of humanitarian aid for this key area in Syria.  

Government officials said then that the deal was key for uprooting terrorist groups such as the so-called Khalid Ibn Al Walid Army, Al Nusra and any pockets affiliated with Daesh near the borders.

AMMAN  — The Jordan Investor Confidence Index, published by the Jordan Strategy Forum (JSF), has seen a drop of 1.27 points in March of this year, reaching 85.88 points compared to 87.20 points in February 2018, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In a statement issued on Monday, the JSF explained that for the sub-indices, the confidence index in the monetary system slightly decreased by 0.35 points due to the decline in the value of the foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank for the month of March by JD 167.9 million with a rise in the interest rate to 4.25 per cent.

The confidence index in economic activity decreased by 1.74 points to 121.8 points as the number of registered companies decreased to 525 companies in March 2018, compared with 530 companies registered in February 2018.

The capital of the registered companies decreased in March 2018, compared with the increase in the number of housing licences that slightly rose from 2,205 in February to 2,241 in March, the industrial production index rose 2 points to 85.9, and the Property Sale Tax remained the same since February until March 2018, reaching JD 8.70 million.

AMMAN — The government will use all its might to defend the income tax draft law as it is presented to the Lower House for approval, a government official said on Monday.

"We will use all our power to defend the bill," Minister of State for Media Affairs and Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani told The Jordan Times on Monday.

The minister said the government adopted a multi-pronged approach to explain the law and raise awareness about it to the public including implementing media and communication plans, social media campaigns and outreach plans.

"The law is currently left for the Lower House for discussions…we respect the Chamber's legislative role but will not spare any effort to ensure that the law is endorsed as it was referred," Momani said on Monday.

Meanwhile, a source at the Lower House told The Jordan Times that lawmakers have "some ideas for introducing some amendments to the draft law".

Some of these amendments include keeping the income tax imposed on banks at its current level of 35 per cent and not increasing it to 40 per cent as stipulated by the draft law, the source said.

The source added that there are some discussions for introducing amendments that are related to exemptions granted to families' annual income.

The current draft law, which was sent to the Lower House, exempts families whose yearly income does not exceed JD16,000 and removes an additional exemption of JD4,000 that was given to families in case they provided bills for medical treatment or education.

"There are some discussions at present to keep the additional JD4,000 exemption annually on families income on the condition of providing bills for treatment or education," said the source.

Last week, the government endorsed the income tax draft law, which the government said was part of a comprehensive economic and financial reform drive, reflecting policies that the government adopts to achieve self-reliance and build a strong economy that “strengthens political positions”.

The bill mainly focuses on three aspects: improving tax collection, curbing tax evasion and boosting tax revenues, which are expected to increase by JD300 million annually.

The proposed law seeks to increase the number of income tax payers from 4.5 per cent currently to 10 per cent.

It re-labels tax evasion from a misdemeanour to a felony with harshened penalties of imprisonment and financial fines. 

As expected, the piece of legislation has been received with resistance by several sectors, including professional associations, which plan a limited strike on Wednesday. 

Prime Minister Hani Mulki said after meeting with the heads of associations on Monday that the government “would continue to interact positively with any feedback on the law”, as quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

He announced that the government would recommend to the King convening the Parliament for an extraordinary session “after two months”, instead of the expected less than one month “to make more room for the dialogue to take place among all stakeholders”.  

Head of the Professional Associations Council Ali Obous, who is also the president of the Jordan Medical Associations, presented the premier with a list of demands they want the government to meet as a prerequisite to call off the planned strike. 

AMMAN — An increase of 17 per cent in the number of adjudicated cases in the various courts of the Kingdom has been reported.

Secretary General of the Judicial Council at the Court of Cassation, Judge Ali Masri, said at a press conference that around 488,000 cases were adjudicated during 2017, recording a rise by 17 per cent compared with 2016, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Masri said that courts reduced the number of rounded cases from the previous year by 22 per cent, while the number of cases filed with the courts rose last year to about 432,000 in 2017, increasing by 6 per cent compared with 2016. 

Masri pointed out that the next phase will focus on preparing effective plans and mechanisms that respond to the recommendations of the Royal Committee for Developing the Judiciary and Enhancing the Rule of Law, which came up last year with the suggestions to improve the performance of the judiciary.

AMMAN — Despite common beliefs that the lack of exercise during Ramadan will help “save energy” during the fasting hours, health experts have pointed out the benefits of working out during the holy month.

With almost 17 hours of fasting a day during Ramadan, some say they feel eager to save their energy to get through the day, mostly by avoiding any additional physical activity. 

“I try to preserve all my energy so I can get my usual work done and function as normally as a person without food and water in this heat could,” Raya Haddad, an employee at the Ministry of Education, told The Jordan Times on Monday.

Her colleague Sawsan agreed: “It is near impossible for us workers to exercise during Ramadan. We barely have the energy to walk back to our cars after a long day of work.”

However, nutritionists expressed a different opinion when it comes to the notion of “saving energy” during fasting hours.

“A common misconception is that no food means no energy. Realistically, it depends on the person’s storage of glucose, which in turn depends on the types of food they eat during the non-fasting hours. People who seize the opportunity to consume foods that are rich in protein usually maintain the same level of energy as they would during a regular day, thus making exercise possible,” stressed nutritionist Amani Alremawi.

“The reason many people feel worn out during the day is because they indulge themselves with sweets and sugary food during hours of iftar, which is of no real value in terms of energy during the later fasting hours,” she told The Jordan Times over the phone.

In fact, several trainers working at some of Amman’s gyms said physical activity is “vital” to keeping one’s spirits up during Ramadan, which is why many of them have group exercise classes especially set up for the holy month.

“People are more encouraged to work out if they do it in groups,” a fitness centre’s representative said, adding that “classes are usually set for after iftar, but other gyms have them before it as well”.

Other than group support and a mind diversion during fasting time, exercise has even more important health effects.

Spokesperson for local gym CrossFitCrescent Nawal Abbassi said that the two classes they have before iftar are “packed”, mostly because those who take them have had “notable weight loss”, prompting even more people to sign up for these classes.

“People come in before iftar because there is a high level of awareness regarding fat-burning in the last hours before breaking fast. People have been losing weight, and others are getting envious. I see people who aren’t even Muslim fast and sign up for these classes because they see their friends’ progress,” Abbassi explained.

As beneficial as exercise can prove to be even during fasting, the practicality of attending classes so close to breaking fast has nonetheless been “problematic”.

Housewives, for instance, say they are reluctant to join classes close to iftar time, as they are usually spending that time preparing the meal. “It takes me two hours to get the table ready, so I froze my membership until after Ramadan. That is more pragmatic for me and my family,” said Randa, a mother of three.

Osama Dweiri, a 26-year-old bank employee, who has been struggling with his weight for years, said he absolutely “cannot make it” to the gym during Ramadan, regardless of how much it could help his weight loss plan, citing long working hours, traffic to and from the gym, and religious commitments.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a February 2018 Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to 15 years in prison after convicting him of engaging in “consensual” sexual activities with a minor in Amman in October 2014. 

The court ruled that the defendant was guilty of having sex with the victim, who was 13 years old when the incident occurred and handed him the maximum punishment.

Court documents said the victim left her family’s home in late September 2014 and headed to a house in an eastern Amman neighbourhood where she worked as a domestic helper for a family.

“The defendant lived in the same building and managed to lure the victim into his apartment, where he engaged in sexual activities with her on several occasions,” the court ruled.

The matter was exposed and the police were notified about the incident, the court said. 

The defendant had contested the Criminal Court ruling, charging that he was subjected to “beating and threats by officers who questioned him at the Family Protection Department [FPD]”, which is affiliated to the Public Security Department.

The defendant also claimed that the “victim would often runaway from her father’s home", saying that the sentence is too harsh "given the fact that I turned myself in to the FPD”.

However, the higher court ruled that the Criminal Court followed the proper proceedings when sentencing the defendant deserves the verdict he received.

“The defendant confessed willingly in front of the FPD officers and other law enforcement agencies’ officers to the incident and, therefore, the Criminal Court’s ruling is correct,” the higher court ruled.

The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zubi, Yassin Abdullat, Nayef Samarat and Majid Azab.

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Monday visited the offices of Mixed Dimensions, where she met with staff of the software technology company and discussed its successful transition onto the global tech startup scene, a statement by Her Majesty's Office said.

Specialised in 3D printing, gaming and computer-aided design, Mixed Dimensions is a US-Jordanian startup that aims to increase the availability of relevant 3D-printable content. The company currently serves more than 100,000 users across the world.

Her Majesty was received at the startup’s Amman office by its co-founders, CEO Muhannad Taslaq and Chief Technical Officer Baha Abu Nojaim. She met with members of Mixed Dimensions’ management team, who briefed her about the company’s services, various challenges faced by the 3D printing and tech industries, and Mixed Dimensions’ vision of becoming “the postscript of 3D printing”. 

 Queen Rania commended the startup for demonstrating passion, dedication and persistence toward achieving its goals, describing Mixed Dimensions as a "model Jordanian success story", which should be taught at Jordanian universities as a case study in how to flourish in the local business environment.

She went on to underscore the importance of bridging the gap between the skills taught in classrooms and those needed in the labour market. She also underlined the need to overcome the pervasive culture of fear, which prevents companies from experimenting and learning from their mistakes in order to build experience and develop successful businesses.

 Launched in Jordan in 2009, Mixed Dimensions sought foreign investments after facing difficulties in the local marketplace. The startup became an incorporated business in 2013 shortly after joining Alchemist Accelerator, a venture-backed accelerator programme based in San Francisco. 

 Considered a pioneer in its field, the company has registered patents for an automated 3D file reconstruction methodology that reduces the time, cost and effort needed to prepare content for 3D printing. 

 During her visit, Queen Rania was introduced to the company’s three distinct products: MakePrintable, a cloud-based tool capable of healing 3D models; GamePrint, which uses 3D printing technology to allow video gamers to capture gameplay moments; and 3DCollectible, which transforms 3D models into high-quality customised collectibles.  

While touring the startup’s offices, Her Majesty chatted with members of the Mixed Dimensions team, who explained to her their ongoing work in 3D design, patents, problem-solving, and algorithms.  

Mixed Dimensions is also home to an internship programme known as Hackatari, which offers mentorship and hands-on work experience in building and managing software products. Through Hackatari, the startup aims to build the capacity of the next generation of software engineers, nurturing their skills in research and development as well as product and web development.

AMMAN — Dozens of orphaned children on Friday got the chance to break from their routines at “The Good Carnival”, an initiative launched by the Princess Basma Centre for Development in Maan, which aims at providing children from the governorate with psychological and moral support through leisure time activities.

Implemented through the centre’s youth committees across the governorate, the initiative seeks to “draw smiles and joy on children's faces and to alleviate their feelings of deprivation and isolation”, according to a press release by the centre. 

"The youth committees are aware of their humanitarian role during the holy month of Ramadan and of the importance of providing both moral and material support to the most unprivileged groups in our local community,” head of the centre’s youth committees Fahed Lejan said during the event, stressing the organisation's belief in "its mission towards society".

Launched on the occasion of Jordan’s 72nd Independence Day, the carnival saw the participation of several decision makers from Maan Governorate, including the head of the operations and training department at the Maan Police Directorate, Col. Adel Al Khalidi, and head of the security centre, Lt. Col. Mohammed Al Basaemeh. 

“The environment within which children grow in Maan is cooperative, and members of the society are always ready to provide a helping hand to others, but the municipalities suffer from a lack of financial support,” Lejan told The Jordan Times, noting that "they lack public entertainment places to spend their leisure time, and that adds to the spread of poverty in this area of Jordan.”

He said this is why they chose to do this event during Ramadan, which is "the month of compassion and goodness”.

“I felt very happy today because I was able to make new friends, and I loved the games we played,” said Abood, one of the children who took part in the activity. 

Col. Al Khalidi stressed that “launched in cooperation with the civil society, these initiatives consolidate the principles of our community policy to communicate and cooperate with all segments of society”.