Jordan News UpdatesCustoms Department agents at the al-Mudawara border point south of Jordan thwarted an attempt to smuggle 3,446 pieces of dental fillings hidden inside a vehicle.
The department’s media spokesman, Fadi al-Qudah, said that the contrabands, which would normally be inspected and approved by the Jordan Food and Drug Administration, were found hidden inside a secret compartment in the vehicle.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The Minister of Environment Muawieh Radaideh on Monday highlighted the importance of the success of the ministry’s National Afforestation Project amid growing global climate concerns, and as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to mitigate its effects.
During a meeting with directors of the directorates, Radaideh called for launching a comprehensive campaign across the Kingdom to ensure that the relevant establishments comply with the environmental requirements and legislation regulating the operation process.
He also stressed coordinating efforts among the ministry’s staff to enhance the environmental situation in the Kingdom and keep pace with local and global developments, especially those related to climate change, underlining the importance of implementing the ministry’s programs and plans.
He stressed the need to crack down on environmental violators, especially repeat offenders, and to refer those violators to the competent judicial authorities to take the appropriate legal action.
The minister indicated the importance of activating the Waste Management Framework Law No. 16 of 2020, especially in terms of illicit waste disposal, noting that the ministry will fully support environmental offices across the Kingdom to overcome the obstacles facing them to implement their programs and tasks and provide services to citizens.
The ministry, he indicated, is preparing to launch a series of programs and activities, in partnership and cooperation with all concerned parties, civil society organizations and youth entities, underscoring commitment to respond and cooperate with proposals that serve environmental work and sustainable construction according to the status quo and in light of the spread of the COVID-19 and increasing climate change, which “is becoming a serious threat to the world.”
The National Afforestation Project, with an estimated budget of JD5 million, was launched in June of 2021 in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture. The project employs about 5,800 laborers and agricultural engineers.
Last week, the minister met with the Economic and Social Council to discuss the environment item in the annual Country Status Report. During the meeting, Radaideh said that Jordan is working with the relevant global system to shift to green economy, as the world moves towards addressing climate change challenges and its impact on the environment sector.
He stressed the importance of setting goals and achieving them to help countries face environmental challenges, noting that the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident in the Middle East.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The Amman Chamber of Industry has participated in Textile Mediterranean Alliances (TEX-MED ALLIANCES), one of the initiatives funded by the ENI CBC Med Program of the European Union, recently held in Barcelona, Spain.
In a statement on Monday, head of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry, Fathi Jaghbeer, said that the initiative brings together competent authorities from Jordan, Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Tunisia and Palestine, with the aim of building Mediterranean strategic alliances between companies and stakeholders of the textile sector in order to improve competitiveness through innovation, internationalization, and sustainability.
“Under the initiative, concerned MSMEs from the Mediterranean textile/clothing industry will acquire updated knowledge and technical skills in the modest fashion segment, smart textiles and digital printing, as well as enhancing innovation, competitiveness and capacities to reach new markets,” he added, noting that eventually, it will help textile and clothing MSMEs expand internationally inside/outside the Mediterranean area.
The Amman Chamber of Industry will soon announce the conditions and requirements to apply for the initiative.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Currency exchange activity at the local money exchange market is weak due to the lack of liquidity, official at the Jordanian Money Exchange Association (JMEA) Khaled Zoubi said Monday.
Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Zoubi indicated that remittances flow into the Kingdom dropped in number and value during November, compared to October, noting that most of these remittances come from the Arab Gulf states, the United States and Europe.
He also pointed out that the number and value of remittances from Jordan are stable this month, and most of them are commercial remittances and amounts of money of foreign workers to their countries.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Prices of oil derivatives in international markets dropped in the third week of November, according to data released on Monday by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
The 90-octane gasoline prices dropped by 3.7%, going from $813.1 per ton in the second week to $783 per ton, while 95-octane gasoline went from $842.5 to $807.9 at a percentage of 4.1, the data showed.
Diesel prices also declined by 4.1% from $707.9 per ton to $678.7 per ton, while the prices of kerosene dropped by 4.4% from $737.3 per ton to $704.8 along with fuel oil going from $451 per ton to $448.8 per ton, at a percentage of 0.5.
Meanwhile, prices of liquefied gas rose in November by 5.5% to $840 per ton, compared to the same period of last year with $704.8.
Benchmark Brent crude prices went down to $81.7 per barrel on the third week of this month, compared to the $83.7 of the second week.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The total number of tourists who visited the Kingdom in the January-October period rose to 1,807,225, about 59.7 per cent, compared to the same period of last year, when the number was 1,131,682, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ monthly data.
The figures showed a 59.8 per cent increase in the number of overnight tourists, totaling 1,552,545 during the January-October period, compared to the same period of 2020 that registered 971,795 visitors.
The number of tourists who visited such archeological sites as Ajloun spiked by 141.2 per cent to 122,071 and Karak 286.7 per cent to 48,149 visitors.
Furthermore, Wadi Rum witnessed an increase in tourist numbers to 142.304, or 36.5 per cent, Umm Qais 27,803, about 24.8 per cent and Jerash 80,708 tourists, or 5 per cent.
Petra tourist numbers in the January-October period climbed to 145,087, the Jordan Valley Baptism site 30,734, Madaba 30,839 and Mount Nebo 80,905 tourists, according to the figures.
Tourism income rose by 61.2% to $2.1 billion, compared to a drop of 73% in the same period of 2020, according to Central Bank of Jordan data.
Source: Jordan News Agency
His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, departed on Monday on a visit to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
King Abdullah is scheduled to begin his visit in Manama, where he will hold talks with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
In Abu Dhabi, His Majesty is slated to hold talks with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi crown prince and deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces.
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
His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, arrived in Bahrain on Monday.
Their Majesties were received at the Sakhir Air Base by Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also prime minister of Bahrain, as well as a number of senior Bahraini officials.
Jordan’s Ambassador to Bahrain Rami Wreikat and senior staff from the embassy were also present to welcome Their Majesties.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The Japanese Embassy in Jordan launched Sunday evening the 10th edition of the Japanese Film Week, screening the drama/science fiction film “Time of Eve,” directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura.
This yearly event is funded by Japan Foundation (JF) and JT International and organized by the Royal Film Commission (RFC). During the Japanese Film Week, four films of diverse topics and genres are scheduled to be screened, belonging to different genres, including SF animation, drama, social film, and suspense. The films will be showcased in the Rainbow Theatre in Amman at 07:00 pm, starting from the 21st until 24th November for free.
In an opening remark, Ambassador of Japan in Jordan Shimazaki Kaoru expressed his graduate for the JF, the JT International, and the RFC for their cooperation. “I hope many Jordanians enjoy watching Japanese films and get interested in Japanese culture,” he added.
The plot of the opening film centers around two high school boys, who grapple with their own humanity in a world where people are served by androids distinguished from their masters only by the halo-like rings above their heads. “The Robots Ethics Committee” dictates that androids should be treated like appliances, and those who empathize with their robots are branded as “android-holics”. Rikuo, and his childhood friend, Masaki, find their assumptions about androids radically challenged when they come across “Time of EVE”; a cafe where androids and people are treated as equals. Masaki and Rikuo must confront old wounds of betrayal and grief, and are faced with decisions that put their friendship and families on the line.
The film participated in Pusan International Film Festival 2011, New York International Children’s Film Festival 2011 and the 3rd Tokyo Animation Fair. It won the Excellence Award at the 9th Tokyo Anime Award and was granted the Jury Recommended Work at Japan Media Arts Festival 2010.
Other films that will be featured in the annual event are: “Where I Belong,” a drama directed by Shinji Azuma; “Recall,” a drama directed by Katsuhide Motoki and “The Scythian Lamb,” a mystery/thriller directed by Daihachi Yoshida.
Source: Jordan News Agency