Jordan expands subsidies, raises salaries

Jordan's prime minister announced a surprise pay raise for civil servants and expansion of a state subsidy program on Thursday, days after Muslim opposition vowed more street protests to force the government to step down. It's believed that concern over deadly riots caused by joblessness and poor prospects for youths in Algeria and Tunisia might have helped spur the government move.
It follows a government announcement last week of a $125 million package of partial subsidies for fuel and staple products like sugar and rice. Speaking at a special parliamentary session focused on ways to alleviate the burden of the poor, Rifai put the price tag on the additional subsidies and raises at $425 million in 2011.