Jordan News UpdatesAl Jazeera’s journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead early Wednesday by Israeli army in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry announced.
Palestinian reporter Ali Samoudi, who works for the Quds newspaper, was also shot in the back but is in a stable condition.
The two reporters were covering the Israeli army’s invasion of the Jenin Refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank.
Source: Jordan News Agency
His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, on Tuesday started his meetings in the US Congress by holding discussions with the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
The meeting covered the historical relations between the two countries, in addition to the latest regional and international developments, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause.
King Abdullah reiterated Jordan’s keenness on further bolstering ties with the United States, as well as maintaining coordination and consultation on issues of mutual concern.
His Majesty highlighted Jordan’s steadfast position towards the Palestinian cause, and called for relaunching the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis, on the basis of the two-state solution, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
For their part, the chairman and members of the committee stressed the importance of the King’s frequent meetings in the Capitol as an opportunity to listen to his views on regional and international issues, in addition to the prospects of peace and finding peaceful solutions to crises in the Middle East.
The US lawmakers commended the strong relations between the two countries, expressing keenness on enhancing relations further in several fields.
His Majesty also met with the Senate Committee on Appropriations and discussed the US-Jordan strategic partnership, with the King highlighting opportunities for cooperation in economic and development-related fields, as well as food security, while building on bilateral agreements to expand and bolster ties.
Expressing Jordan’s keenness to advance regional integration and resiliency networks to counter threats to food security, His Majesty voiced appreciation for the United States’ ongoing support for the Kingdom in a number of vital sectors.
For their part, the chairman and members of the committee commended Jordan’s economic reform measures, stressing the United States’ readiness to advance economic cooperation.
Also at the Capitol, the King met with US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and members of the Senate leadership, reaffirming the deeply rooted ties of friendship between the two countries.
The meeting covered the steps needed to rebuild trust between the Palestinians and the Israelis, with His Majesty reaffirming the importance of stepping up regional and international efforts to find a political horizon for the Palestinian cause and achieve just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.
The King noted the important role of the United States in this regard, warning of the outcomes of escalation in East Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, as well as violations in Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif and all holy sites in Jerusalem, and their negative implications on peace prospects.
His Majesty said Jordan will continue its efforts to safeguard Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem under the Hashemite Custodianship.
The Senate leaders commended Jordan’s pivotal role in bolstering regional stability and in pursuit of peace.
The King also met with the Senate Armed Services Committee and stressed the importance of ongoing defence and military cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting covered efforts to reach political solutions to regional and international crises, as well as efforts to counter terrorism within a holistic approach and deal with the implications of the crisis in Ukraine on international peace and the global economy.
Members of the committee noted Jordan’s stabilising role in the region, commending the two countries’ partnership in countering terrorism and extremism.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington Dina Kawar.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Major Gen. Yousef Huneiti on Wednesday, Chief of Defence Forces of Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), Gen. Venance Salvatory Mabeyo, and the accompanying delegation.
Huneiti discussed with Gen. Mabeyo the latest developments on the regional and international arenas, cooperation and coordination aspects in the field of joint military training, exchange of expertise and military exercises, and ways to enhance bilateral relations to serve interests of both countries’ armed forces.
In addition, Huneiti and the Tanzanian delegation listened to a number of military briefings focusing on the extent of development and modernization of weapons, tasks and equipment in Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF), in line with the nature of the region’s developments at various levels.
The Tanzanian delegation also visited King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC), as well as the command headquarters of King Abdullah II Special Forces Group and Royal Jordanian Air Force.
Source: Jordan News Agency
A Cabinet session held Wednesday, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, approved renewal of special exemptions granted to Abdali Investment & Development and its subsidiaries, as well as other businesses investing in the company for a 2-year period.
Under its decision, the government asked Abdali Investment & Development to submit a clear implementation plan, linked to a specific timeframe for the completion of all project components.
The decision also included reduction of the building and land tax and the vacant land tax by 50% for projects operating within Abdali project.
In addition, the move comes with the aim of enabling Abdali Investment and Development, its subsidiaries, and other companies investing in Abdali project, which would contribute to strengthening the partnership between the public and private sectors, and stimulating existing local and foreign investments.
The Council of Ministers approved disbursement of JD500, 000 to enable the Economic and Social Association of Retired Servicemen and Veterans (ESARSV) to pay its financial obligations.
The Cabinet, moreover, agreed to use the building occupied by the Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education for Western Asia (RCSSTEWA) in the capital’s Yajouz area for the purposes of the State Security Court (SSC), its Public Prosecution, and administrative and support staff.
On the other hand, the Cabinet decided to name Yousef Mohammad Qudah as Director General of the Department of Awqaf Properties Development, after scoring the highest points , according to the appointment regulations for leadership positions.
Source: Jordan News Agency
A total of 1,059,092 tourists visited the Kingdom in the first tertile of 2022, marking an increase of 295.9 percent compared to the same period of 2021, thanks to the recent relaxation of international travel restrictions, according to the Tourism Ministry.
In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said that the figures exceeded expectations, which indicated that only 1.3 million would visit Jordan in the January-April period.
“The overnight tourists in the first 4 months of 2022 totaled 902,426, which is 280.5 percent higher than 2021, while one-day visitors also increased by 415.8 percent to 156,666 tourists,” the statement added.
April witnessed a significant growth in the number of international tourists, totaling 278,888 tourists, which is a rise of 290.5 percent compared to the same period last year.
Source: Jordan News Agency
A total of 10,000 vehicles had rolled off the production line by April 30 in U.S. carmaker Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory in China since it resumed production on April 19 after a 3-week hiatus, according to the company.
In the first four months of this year, Tesla’s Shanghai factory delivered 183,686 vehicles, over 1.7 times the amount for the same period last year, already surpassing the total for 2020.
Due to the latest COVID-19 resurgence in the city, the Shanghai Gigafactory had suspended production for over 20 days.
The company said its Shanghai factory has already started manufacturing vehicles for export to the Asia-Pacific and European markets.
Source: Jordan News Agency