Day: April 4, 2024

Amman: His Majesty King Abdullah II on Thursday departed on a private visit.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II was sworn in as Regent, in the presence of Cabinet members.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Four people were killed, and 2 others were injured, on Thursday, in a car accident in Ma’an governorate, 220km south of Amman.

The Public Security Department (PSD) spokesperson said a car crash in the Unayzah region took place this afternoon to which the Ma’an Civil Defense Directorate’s rescue and ambulance workers as well as the police reacted.

Rescue teams administered first aid to the injured and transferred them Ma’an Public Hospital, the spokesperson added.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi said Thursday the ministry’s sectors are doing significant work to properly cover the country’s parliamentary election.

Speaking to KUNA while touring the ministry’s sectors, the minister said the ministry has been working hard as per an integrated all-out blueprint since the vote decree was issued.

The ministry’s staff will keep covering the electoral process until the final results are made public, he said, pointing out live broadcasts hosting specialists and analysts to comment on the race.

The voting process for the 18th legislative term of the National Assembly began at 12:00 p.m. local-time on Thursday in Kuwait’s five electoral constituencies. The 2024 elections will continue until midnight.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Salt: Her Highness Princess Dana Firas, President of the Petra National Trust, engaged in discussions on Thursday with the British Ambassador to Jordan, Philip Hall, concerning the procedural aspects of an upcoming project aimed at bolstering heritage resilience in light of climate change challenges.

The initiative, funded by the Cultural Protection Fund of the British Council in collaboration with the International National Trust, focuses on the restoration of the Jaghbir House in Salt, following the city’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The project’s objectives encompass safeguarding significant heritage sites for local communities, enhancing awareness of the intricate interplay between climate change and heritage preservation, developing a specialized curriculum on climate change’s impact on cultural heritage, and fostering skills within the heritage and restoration sector.

Overseen by the Petra National Trust, the project will span a duration of one and a half years, with supervision and
oversight from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Environment.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The US administration announced historic USD 20 billion investment in clean energy and climate solutions to lower energy costs for communities across the nation.

The White House said in a statement that a national financing network is in the works to fund tens of thousands of clean energy projects across the country, especially in low income and disadvantaged communities.

The investment is part of the environmental protection agency’s greenhouse gas reduction fund, a first of its kind and national scale 27 billion USD program funded through President Biden’s inflation reduction act to combat the climate crisis.

This program will ensure communities across the country have access to capital they need to participate in and benefit from a cleaner, more sustainable economy.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Amman: The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) on Thursday launched a joint programme to support the health system responses of the governments of Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon to climate change adaptation and risk reduction over the coming two years.

In a joint statement, the programme, operating under the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund, aims to strengthen the resilience of health systems and migrant populations to climate change and disaster risks by incorporating an inclusive human mobility lens into national public health adaptation and risk reduction strategies of the target countries.

“Natural hazards that displace people, claim lives, damage property and impact health are strongly linked to climate change,” said Mr Othman Belbeisi, IOM Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“Thus, there is a strong need for a comprehensive approach that recognizes the linkages between cli
mate change adaptation and risk reduction efforts in a manner that is inclusive of all impacted communities including migrants,” he said.

“The escalating impacts of climate change globally and particularly in our region are leading to drastic health risks, especially among migrants who face difficulties in accessing adequate health services, ” he pointed out.

This programme aims to create a coherent, multistakeholder approach to enhance resilience and preparedness within health systems, with a focus on the needs of migrants, who are often affected by climate change and its related risks,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

“The UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States is committed to supporting local authorities in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon in disaster risk management and resilience-building efforts by developing local resilience action plans, which ensure that local authorities and communities are better equipped to handle disasters and emergencies and can respond effec
tively and efficiently,” said Mr Fadi Jannan, Deputy Chief of UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States.

The Middle East and North Africa region is among the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change due to its mostly arid climate, coupled with serious water scarcity, continued population growth and urbanization, the statement said.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned attempts of the Israeli occupation police to evacuate “Garden of the Cows,” which is considered part of the property of the Armenian Patriarchate in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.

The ministry said these attempts are invalid and unacceptable measures according to international law and violate the existing historical and legal status quo in occupied Jerusalem.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry’s official spokesperson, Dr. Sufyan Qudah, said the provocative measures against Christians of the occupied Jerusalem and attacks on Christian clergy are a “flagrant and unacceptable” violation of international law and existing historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its sanctities.

Qudah called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and stop the ongoing Israeli violations of international law.

Qudah stressed that the Armenian Quarter is an integral part of the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls and is a site reg
istered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 at the request of Jordan.

In 1982, he noted the quarter was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to Israel’s violations and illegal actions in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Qudah affirmed that all Israeli measures aimed at changing character and legal status of the Holy City are null and void and constitute a clear violation of the relevant international conventions and resolutions.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Jordanian Judicial Council (JJC) said a total of 37 corruption cases were filed with Amman Court of First Instance by Amman Attorney General’s Office during the past year 2023, and value of the money restored was worth JD571,819.

Speaking at a press conference Thursday, JJC Secretary-General and its media spokesman, Ali Musimi, said the Kingdom’s regular courts issued verdicts in 172 corruption cases, in which the conviction rate reached 63.4% and the litigation period reached 90 days.

During the past year, he said the courts received 90 money laundering cases, of which 57 were closed with rulings at a conviction rate reaching 25%, while 48 human trafficking cases were filed, 42 of which were dismissed, with a conviction rate at 57.1%.

Musimi announced Higher Administrative Court annulled 51 administrative decisions issued by the Kingdom’s public administration, and 1,274 cases were submitted to the administrative judiciary, in which verdicts were issued in 1,194 lawsuits.

Additionally, Musimi
pointed out that a total of 1, 281 domestic violence cases were filed and concluded with sentences at a rate of 100% as the number of female complainants in these lawsuits reached 95%.

Under the general amnesty law issued in the Official Gazette, Musimi stated that a total of 9,824 cases were dropped as of this morning.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: As part of Jordan’s commitment to supporting the people of Gaza, Jordanian aircraft dropped aid packages on Thursday containing clothing for the upcoming Eid holiday and food supplies under the dire circumstances caused by the Israeli war on Gaza.

The Jordan Armed Forces – Arab Army conducted ten airdrops of humanitarian and food aid to various locations in northern Gaza, with the participation of allied countries.

The operation involved aircraft from the Royal Jordanian Air Force, as well as contributions from the United States, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The Jordan Armed Forces reiterated their commitment to providing ongoing humanitarian and medical assistance to Gaza, either through air operations from Marka Airport to El Arish International Airport or via airdrops directly to Gaza or land convoys, to help the people there overcome challenges during Ramadan.

Since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, Jordan has conducted 71 airdrops independently and 147
in collaboration with allied countries.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Senate President, Faisal Fayez, affirmed the Upper Chamber’s support to His Majesty King Abdullah II’s efforts to preserve national principles and back just Arab issues, foremost is Palestinian cause.

Fayez indicated that the free Jordanian people will “firmly” confront attempts to tamper with the Kingdom’s unity and social peace or undermine sacrifices of Jordanians.

At the beginning of the Senate session Thursday, he expressed his refusal to spread rumors and false news, aimed to undermine positions of His Majesty and Jordanians in support of Palestinian people.

Fayez added that the King places the Palestinian cause at the top of priorities, reflected in his stances.

Since the brutal Israeli war against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, Fayez said the King sought to stop this blatant aggression.

Fayez pointed out that His Majesty staunchly defends the Palestinian cause, and exposes the brutal Israeli practices to the world.

In this regard, he affirmed His Majesty’
s efforts and contacts, with the leaders of countries and various political leaders, changed many Western policies, adding that the West has begun to speak “strongly and frankly” about the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Senate on Thursday approved 5 draft laws as received from the Lower House of Representatives, in its session held Thursday, headed by its President, Faisal Fayez, in the presence of the Cabinet members.

During the session, the Upper Chamber approved the amended Tourism Law, with a recommendation to the government to create a comprehensive committee entrsusted to license and monitor establishments to facilitate operations, especially hotel businesses and license the tourist entity as a single unit without dividing its facilities in the licensing process.

The Senate approved the draft Planning and International Cooperation Law, which comes in implementation of the Executive Program to Modernize the Public Sector, aimed to review the Planning Law of 1971, to ensure complementary roles and responsibilities and interconnect with budget planning and resources.

Additionally, the senators passed the draft Amman Municipality Law, which regulates procedures related to planning, organization, buildings, su
bdivision, division, expropriation, and procedures to grant development rights.

The Senate greenlit the draft law to revoke the Law of Ratification of the Surface “Oil Shale” Distillation Agreement with the government, represented by the Natural Resources Authority (NRA) and the Karak International Oil Company (KIO), due to its failure to comply with the agreement requirements.

The Senate approved the draft Renewable Energy Law, which regulates mechanisms for buying and selling electrical energy produced from establishments and homes.

The law also sets systems, devices and equipment for renewable energy sources, and rationalization of energy consumption, which is exempt from customs duties and subject to the general sales tax at a “zero” rate

Source: Jordan News Agency

Ajloun: Minister of Investment Kholoud Saqqaf announced the launch of six new investment opportunities in the tourism and food industries, totaling an anticipated investment of $61 million, via the online platform invest.jo.

During a visit to the al-Sawan Development Area in Ajloun Governorate on Thursday, Saqqaf inspected the progress of the cable car project.

Saqqaf emphasized the ministry’s commitment to promoting these opportunities to attract potential investors, citing Ajloun’s appeal to investors, particularly in tourism and food sectors.

This visit aligns with the ministry’s efforts to survey investment and development zones across all governorates. The cable car project stands as a focal point for tourism development in Ajloun, bolstering investment and economic growth.

The investment portfolio includes plans for a tourist village, the revitalization of Deir al-Samadiyya, Ajloun National Park, and the Ajloun Medical Resort, alongside initiatives in the food industry, such as a model farm and culi
nary academy.

Saqqaf highlighted a collaborative effort with Ajloun Municipality and the Tourism Directorate to enhance the cable car project’s appeal, aiming for a holistic entertainment experience and attracting diverse investments to boost employment.

Free Zones and Development Zones Board Chairman Sakhr Ajlouni noted that the cable car project has created around 120 direct job opportunities for locals and attracted over 300,000 visitors since its inception.

Source: Jordan News Agency