Day: January 3, 2022

Categories
Health

China: two major officials laid off due to Covid-19 spread

Chinese authorities laid off two major officials in Xi An city after a Covid-19 epicenter had emerged.

Local authorities said Sunday it discharged two Communist Party representatives to control and prevent the spread of the virus.

Last month, Chinese authorities punished dozens of officials in the city due to not adhering to safety measures, noting that the lockdown it imposed last Thursday had lowered infections numbers.

Xi An city recorded Monday 90 new cases, taking the caseload to more than 1,600 since December 9.

These measures come in preparation for hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics next February in Beijing.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Categories
Affairs

Energy Minister: work underway to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is exerting efforts, under the umbrella of the National Energy Efficiency Plan, to provide an enabling environment that improves energy efficiency in various sectors, Minister Saleh Kharabsheh said on Monday.

During a meeting with the Plan’s work team, Kharabsheh noted that the ministry is currently preparing the third National Energy Efficiency Plan in light of the lessons learned from the implementation of previous national plans, and based on international best practices, in cooperation with relevant partners and in line with the energy sector strategy for the years (2020-2030).

The minister emphasized the need of spreading national awareness by encouraging energy efficiency in the building sector through building codes applications, which will eventually reduce energy costs and raise the competitiveness of economic sectors.

“The importance of the Plan, which represents a road map, comes within the framework of the ministry’s endeavors to achieve the strategic goals of improving energy efficiency and reducing energy costs for all sector,” he added, highlighting the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Law, issued for this purpose, along with the terms and conditions of exempting renewable energy sources systems from all customs duties and sales tax.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Categories
Government Policy

Gov’t okays introduction of new municipalities

The government on Monday gave the green light to establish municipalities in some regions of the Kingdom, to be initiated after the upcoming local and municipal elections in March, and before the end of this year.

In its weekly session, the cabinet set two basic criteria for the introduction of new municipalities: the creation of a municipality in any district or any sub district that is not a municipal center, while maintaining the existing municipalities and without abolishing any of them.

According to a Prime Ministry statement, the decision aims to enhance development and services in the areas in which municipalities will be created, and to reduce the burden on some existing municipalities that serve wide geographical areas.

Also during the session chaired by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, Minister of Water and Irrigation Muhammad Najjar gave an update on the National Water Carrier Project which is hoped to provide the capital and other regions of the Kingdom with 300 million cubic meters of desalinated seawater annually.

The mega project envisages the construction of an Aqaba-Amman pipeline as well as intake and desalination plants in the Red Sea port of Aqaba. According to Najjar, the draft project documents were sent to prequalified bidders about two weeks ago.

He indicated that the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation will host a meeting with donors later this month to secure funding for the project.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY