Day: March 17, 2024

Amman: The Jordan Exports and the Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Sunday, aiming to bolster and invigorate Jordanian exports and enterprises of all sizes.

Omar Qaryouti, CEO of Jordan Exports, and Muhammad Jaafari, General Manager of the Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation, sealed the agreement.

The MoU entails reciprocal promotion of their respective clientele, collaborative risk assessments to bolster the competitiveness of Jordanian exporters, joint participation in exhibitions and trade missions organized by Jordan Exports, and provision of technical assistance to beneficiary firms.

Qaryouti praised the Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation’s role in offering loan guarantees against banking and financial risks, safeguarding Jordanian exporters from political and commercial risks through its programs aimed at encouraging exports to foreign markets.

Jaafari commended the joint efforts of both entities in supporting export activities and facilitating access to for
eign markets for Jordanian exporters, thereby enhancing national exports and furthering the goals of the Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation.

Jordan Exports serves as a focal point for coordinating national export endeavors, employing innovative strategies to empower Jordanian enterprises, spur export growth, and foster global connections for Jordanian businesses.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Amman Stock Exchange concluded Sunday’s trading session with approximately 1.4 million shares traded across 1,784 transactions, totaling about JD2.5 million in trading value.

The stock index experienced a slight decline, closing at 2,497, down by 0.10 percent from the previous session.

Among publicly traded companies, 31 witnessed a decrease in share prices, while 22 saw an increase, and 23 remained unchanged.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Department of Statistics reported that 96 percent of statistical data was made available to the public, with only 4 percent remaining unavailable.

In its 2023 annual data monitoring report released on Sunday, the department disclosed receiving 633 requests for statistical data throughout the year.

The report highlighted the second quarter of 2023 as the peak period for data requests, comprising approximately 26.6 percent of the total, while the third quarter saw the lowest demand. Demographic and social data accounted for the highest demand at 46.9 percent, followed by economic data at 36.5 percent. Economic data was the most sought-after category on the department’s website, constituting 44.1 percent of all data requests.

Researchers topped the list of data requestors at 28.6 percent, followed by the private sector at 21.6 percent, with media professionals showing the lowest demand at 1.9 percent. Comparing data requests over the past five years revealed that 2019 had the highest number of requ
ests at 1,322, followed by 2020 and 2021 with 962 and 867 requests respectively. However, 2023 saw the lowest number of requests at 14.2 percent.

The Department of Statistics said it is currently working on launching the National Interactive Data Center, aiming to digitize all data requests for easy access by researchers on their computers or tablets.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Muscat: Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister received here today Li Lingbing, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Sultanate of Oman to bid her farewell at the end of her tour of duty.

Sayyid Badr expressed his appreciation to the ambassador for her efforts in enhancing bilateral relations, wishing her success.

Source: Oman News Agency

Amman: Since assuming constitutional duties, His Majesty King Abdullah II has prioritized enhancing citizens’ living standards and expanding services while focusing on social protection as a fundamental priority.

The royal vision emphasizes comprehensive social protection measures, aiming to uplift impoverished families into economically productive units, particularly aiding orphans, widows, and individuals with special needs.

Targeting impoverished areas and families across Jordan, the royal initiatives aim to elevate living conditions, enhance economic empowerment, and foster productivity among families. These efforts span various sectors, including youth, economy, social welfare, health, and education, with a particular emphasis on involving women and youth in all endeavors.

Complementary to government programs, the initiatives focus on youth employment, supporting development projects, boosting small-scale enterprises, and providing aid to vulnerable groups such as women, children, disabled individuals
, orphans, and the elderly, thereby stimulating local community development.

The Ministry of Social Development, under royal directives, has implemented housing projects for impoverished families nationwide, offering secure, healthy housing to promote stability.

Over 5,200 families have benefited from this initiative across all governorates of Jordan, according to ministry reports.

Recipients of the housing initiative express deep gratitude to King Abdullah II, emphasizing his consistent concern for needy families and his directives to provide suitable housing, reflecting his commitment to improving the living conditions of disadvantaged groups.

Moreover, royal initiatives encompass empowering individuals with disabilities through establishing diagnostic and rehabilitation centers, providing transportation services, and supporting civil society institutions dedicated to their care.

The “Hashemite Charity Parcels” initiative, distributing aid during important occasions like the King’s birthday and Ramadan
, provides vital support to needy families, offering relief, especially during Ramadan.

Royal initiatives extend to financing productive projects for associations and supporting entities caring for orphans, the elderly, and individuals with special needs, with the aim of enhancing their services and societal impact.

Leaders of beneficiary associations and institutions commend King Abdullah II for his initiatives, recognizing their significant contributions to improving services for target groups and enhancing institutional capabilities.

These initiatives underscore a commitment to transitioning vulnerable segments of society towards self-sufficiency, productivity, and employment, thereby addressing poverty and unemployment challenges.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Nizwa: The UNESCO Chair for Aflaj Studies at the University of Nizwa, A’Dakhiliyah Governorate, conducted a set of studies and research projects that identified common difficulties faced by aflaj (centuries’-old irrigation system) in the Sultanate of Oman and proposed solutions to address the challenges. The studies laid emphasis on the need to intensify programmes and projects that tackle the negative impacts on the falaj system in Oman.

Dr. Abdullah Saif Al Ghafri, Professor of the UNESCO Chair for Aflaj Studies at the University of Nizwa, said that the Chair recently published results of its latest studies that combined field data, smart technologies and new theories. He added that the challenges varied from one project to another, with some projects facing logistical difficulties, while others met with financial or administrative difficulties.

Source: Oman News Agency

Doha: Jordanian companies continue to expand their presence within the Qatar Financial Center (QFC), marking a steady increase in the first two months of 2024.

Reports reveal that approximately 125 Jordanian companies are currently operating under the QFC umbrella, reflecting a notable growth rate of 4.1 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

The QFC stands as a beacon of financial and commercial excellence in the Middle East and North Africa region, drawing in a diverse array of companies from various sectors. Jordanian businesses, in particular, have shown resilience and dynamism within this influential financial hub.

According to data sourced from the QFC’s official website, Jordanian entities engaged with the center span across a wide spectrum of industries, encompassing services, financial technology, banking, money management, IT, hospitality, professional services, trade, and more.

Jordan’s prominence within the QFC landscape is evident, with the nation ranking second only to Qatar i
n the number of companies operating within the center.

The strategic advantages offered by the QFC, including 100 percent foreign ownership, streamlined licensing procedures through a unified e-platform, and a favorable corporate tax regime, have contributed to the attractiveness of the center for Jordanian businesses seeking expansion opportunities abroad.

Furthermore, the QFC provides an enabling environment for international trade and investment, facilitating seamless profit repatriation, transparent regulatory frameworks, and efficient dispute resolution mechanisms.

Presently, the QFC manages assets exceeding 120 billion riyals ($32.9 billion). The center boasts a diverse ecosystem comprising approximately 2,000 local and international companies, collectively employing over 12,000 professionals across various sectors.

The breadth of activities within the QFC spans vital sectors such as health, education, investment, media, sports, retail, logistics, digital services, finance, real estate, and energy.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Washington: Kavachi, a highly active submarine volcano in the Pacific near the Solomon Islands, showed increased activity in 2024, with satellites capturing images of discolored plumes of water.

The volcano, rising 1,200 meters from the seafloor, has erupted at least 39 times since 1939, with the latest period starting in 2021.

Images from NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites showed similar underwater plumes near Kavachi on various dates in February and March.

These plumes contain particulate matter, volcanic rock fragments, sulfur, and various oxides, with their colors indicating different compositions.

Despite its challenging accessibility, researchers explored Kavachi in 2015 during a lull in activity, discovering diverse marine life within the crater.

Unlike other active submarine volcanoes with highly acidic water and “kill zones,” Kavachi’s relatively shallow crater and high surface currents allow rapid mixing.

Located in a tectonically active area northeast of a subduction zone, Kavachi produces lava
s ranging from basaltic to andesitic, known for phreatomagmatic eruptions ejecting steam, ash, and incandescent bombs into the air.

Source: Oman News Agency

Ramallah: Israeli occupation forces conducted a widespread campaign of raids and arrests across the occupied West Bank on Sunday, resulting in the apprehension of 19 Palestinians.

The intensified raids sparked clashes in several towns and camps, leading to injuries.

The Palestinian Prisoners Society reported that those detained were transferred to occupation security services for questioning, accused of involvement in armed resistance against settlers and Israeli forces.

Incidents unfolded primarily in Jenin, Tulkarm, Qalqiliya, Nablus, Salfit, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Hebron, and Bethlehem, where numerous homes were raided. Residents endured hours of detention, followed by rigorous field investigations, while their homes were ransacked, added the Society.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The UAE announced the arrival of the first humanitarian aid ship to the Gaza Strip carrying 200 tons of food and relief supplies, in cooperation between the UAE, the World Central Kitchen Foundation, and the Republic of Cyprus, through the sea corridor between Cyprus and Gaza, starting from the port of Larnaca.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out, in a statement, the efforts made by the UAE to mobilize support for the Amalthea sea corridor initiative to deliver humanitarian aid to northern Gaza and its success, and appreciated the vital role played by the leadership of the Republic of Cyprus and the World Central Kitchen Foundation. and international partners to enhance the humanitarian response provided to civilians in northern Gaza.

The Ministry explained that the worsening catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip requires adopting such a multilateral, international cooperative approach to mitigate its repercussions without delay on innocent civilians, by ensuring the immediate, safe,
and unhindered flow of aid on a large and sustainable scale. The Ministry stressed that the sea corridor is part of the tireless efforts to increase the flow of aid and commercial goods through all routes.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Amman: The recorded electrical load decreased on Saturday, reaching 3400 megawatts, according to recent data released by the National Electric Power Company.

The figure stands in contrast to the peak load registered during the current winter period, which reached 4050 megawatts.

Last August, Jordan saw its highest recorded electrical load in the kingdom’s history, reaching 4220 megawatts.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry affirmed in a statement on Sunday, reported by ‘Russia Today’, Egypt’s condemnation in the strongest terms ‘the Israeli forces’ continued attacks against defenseless Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, which claimed the lives of more than 60 martyrs during the past 24 hours, in addition to the hundreds of martyrs who fell while they were waiting for humanitarian aid at the Kuwait Roundabout and before that, the Nabulsi Roundabout.’

Egypt called on Israel to “stop the policies of collective punishment against the residents of the Gaza Strip, which represent a complete violation of the provisions of international law and international humanitarian law.”

Egypt also called on Israel to “comply with its responsibilities as the occupying power, and refrain from targeting civilians, and the necessity of providing urgent aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip.”

Egypt renewed its warning against the dangers of carrying out any military operation in the city of Rafah “because of it
s dire humanitarian consequences that would befall Palestinian civilians who took refuge in Rafah as the last safe haven inside the Strip.”

It considered that “taking this measure despite warnings and international rejection of it reflects indifference to the lives of innocent civilians, and is a grave violation of international law and international humanitarian law.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon