Day: July 28, 2022

Amman, July 28 (Petra) — The Ministry of Labor gave the private sector leeway to decide on how to proceed according to each institution’s nature of work, following a circular by the Prime Minister to observe a holiday marking the Islamic Hijri new year on Saturday Muharram 1, 1443, or July 30, 2022.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry offered His Majesty King Abdullah II and the His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II congratulations on the occasion of the Islamic Hijri new year.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, July 28 (Petra) — Floods and landslides northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran, killed four people and injured eight others, as rescue teams are still searching for survivors in the stricken area, according to Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Shaheen Fathi, Head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society in Tehran, said a heavy downpour, which started late Wednesday evening, sparked flash floods and landslides in Imamzada and several areas of Tehran.

Rescue teams and Red Crescent agents in Tehran, Shemiranat, Pakdasht, and Malard are on high alert to serve citizens in need, he added.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, July 28 (Petra) — The CALP Network organized a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) course in Amman, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), to equip 13 people from 10 organizations to deliver Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) training throughout the Middle East and North Africa region.

The use of CVA, which are humanitarian programs where cash transfers or vouchers are directly provided to crisis-affected people, was a positive change within the humanitarian system in recent years, enabling much greater choice and dignity for recipients of aid, said the CALP’s Regional Representative Georgios Frantzis in a statement on Thursday.

Explaining the purpose of the ToT course, leader Ayman Ramsis stated: “Having more Arabic-speaking trainers who can deliver its courses will help increase access to CVA training throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This will result in more training, particularly in areas difficult to access.”

Christina Abi Rafeh from the Lebanese Red Cross, who is a participant in the course, said: “This is by far one of the most interesting and rewarding experiences I have engaged in throughout my career. It is indeed a new door to expand my knowledge in the world of CVA.”

Once the training is complete, course participants will be equipped to deliver the CALP’s “Core CVA Skills for Program Staff” course.

The CALP Network is a dynamic global network of more than 90 organizations engaged in the critical areas of policy, practice, and research in humanitarian cash and voucher assistance and financial assistance. Collectively, the CALP members deliver the vast majority of humanitarian CVA worldwide.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, July 28 (Petra) — The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Thursday that 6.6 million Covid-19 cases were registered last week.

The German Press Agency (DPA) cited WHO saying that the highest number of cases stood at 969,000 recorded in Japan, followed by the United States with 860,000, then Germany with some 570,000 patients.

Last week witnessed 12,600 Covid deaths, it noted, with 2,600 recorded in the US, 1,400 in Brazil, and 272 in Japan.

Japan is seeing “unprecedented numbers” in daily cases amid the seventh wave of the pandemic, according to Japan’s Kyodo News Plus.

In a press conference Wednesday, Director-General of WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the pandemic is not over yet, underscoring vaccinations for health care workers and the elderly in light of the increase in deaths and hospital admissions in recent weeks.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Azraq, July 28 (Petra) — Staff of the Azraq Wetland Reserve, an affiliate of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, on Thursday spotted a felis silvestris, commonly known as wild cats, for the first time since 1997 while conducting a study on mammals in the reserve.

Director of the reserve Hazem Khraisheh said that the rare wild cat is one of four types known to be in Jordan, and is the most common and widely distributed wild felid species in the Kingdom in terms of geographical distribution. He stressed that the wild cat is not an endangered species according to the national Red List assessment of the 85 mammalian species reported.

The wildcat sighting, Khraisheh noted, is a positive indicator of the safety of biodiversity in the reserve and its ability to provide small rodents and birds to feed on.

For his part, Supervisor of the Protected Areas Programs Thabet Shara pointed out that locals see wild cats as non-threatening and, therefore, the species is not in any kind of danger.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, July 28 (Petra) – The Jordanian Economic Forum (JEF) discussed the future of the construction sector and its challenges during a recent dialogue session, attended by Minister of Public Works and Housing, Yahya Kasabi, and sector officials.

During the workshop, role of the construction sector, which is viewed a key and driving sectors of Jordan’s national economy, was reviewed, according to a JEF statement issued on Thursday.

Participants said the sector contributes 5% of the GDP and is working to develop the infrastructure that represents a pillar for urban communities and a major factor in improving life quality, enhancing business and attracting investment, the statement added.

Addressing the workshop, Kasabi said the construction sector is a key business and should receive attention to revive the Kingdom’s economy.

The minister also said partnership projects between the public and private sectors support the sector, which have expanded.

To stimulate the citizens’ purchasing capability, he referred to the Cabinet’s decision to extend exemption of the first 150 meters from apartment registration fees and other steps to enhance real estate trade.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, July 28 (Petra) — President of the Jordanian Parliamentary Friendship Association with Asia and Oceania Abdul Rahim Ma’aya and Indonesian Ambassador Ade Padmo Sarwono discussed enhancing bilateral ties to serve the two nations.

During a visit to Indonesia’s embassy in Amman, Ma’aya said the Jordanian-Indonesian relations have been “deep-rooted and firm” throughout the years, thanks to the two countries’ leaders, stressing commitment to strengthening ties and leveraging expertise in the two countries.

Ma’aya and Sarwono underscored the unity and coordination of parliamentary efforts related to various issues of common interest in all international forums, pointing to the significant role of parliamentary friendship associations in advancing bilateral ties and exchanging visits and expertise.

They also noted the importance of boosting cooperation in trade, tourism, investment, education, and economy to serve the two nations’ peoples.

For his part, the envoy underlined appreciation of His Majesty King Abdullah’s role in bringing about peace and bolstering security and stability in the Middle East.

He commended the “historical relations” between the two countries on multiple levels, noting that his country is committed to developing ties with Jordan in various fields.

Source: Jordan News Agency