Jordan News UpdatesThe British Ministry of Defense (MoD) Saturday said it is giving Ukraine six undersea drones to help Ukraine clear its coastline of mines.
The MoD stated that the drones could detect, locate and identify mines so that the Ukrainian Navy would destroy them, noting that Britain would also train Ukrainian Navy personnel on how to use drones.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU) called on employers in various economic businesses to abide by occupational health and safety requirements within the work environment, during the heatwave forecast to ravage Jordan to end of this week.
In a statement on Saturday, GFJTU also advised workers to avoid exposure to direct sunlight during peak times, calling on business owners to ensure their safety.
In many labor sectors, workers perform their tasks under direct sunlight and in open spaces, which requires measures within the work environment aimed to maintain the employee safety and health, primarily work rotation and resting hours.
Calling on workforce to suspend their activities during the peak period in open places for their own safety, GFJTU said occupational safety and health requirements within the work environment are a worker right guaranteed by Labor Law, which is the employer’s responsibility.
Source: Jordan News Agency
A team of researchers at the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), Jordan’s largest research institution, has developed a machine that can use even the most arid air as a reservoir for drinking water.
Utilizing water vapor in the form of humidity, the patented device is capable of producing up to 35 liters of water per day, even in Jordan’s arid, desert climate. The process can be carried out multiple times a day to deliver a continuous supply of clean drinking water.
Jordan has one of the world’s poorest water resources, which are being depleted faster than they can be replenished. The problem is being exacerbated by climate change.
To address this challenge, a team at the RSS’s Advanced Research Centre set out more than three years ago to develop a solution that treats the atmosphere as an untapped reservoir.
The research team, led by Kyle E. Cordova, Executive Director of Scientific Research, and Eng Husam Almassad, Staff Scientist, invented a novel atmospheric water harvesting machine that selectively captures and collects humidity from the surrounding air and condenses it into liquid water.
The machine has been vetted, validated, and approved through a rigorous peer-review process, and the results have been published in Nature Communications, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals.
The device uses porous, molecular sponges that are designed to efficiently and selectively capture, concentrate, and condense water vapor from dry, desert air, utilizing cutting-edge technology. The water is released once the molecular sponge is full by raising the air’s temperature.
The released water vapor is then condensed to yield liquid water that is filtered and mineralized for human consumption. This process can be driven by an external, solar-powered energy source.
The research team’s scientific report details how the machine operates using a proprietary algorithm that monitors climate fluctuations in real time to continuously optimize water production and power consumption.
This resulted in a 3-fold increase in daily water production, even in the arid desert. Crucially, the cost per litre is as low as 6.5 US cents and the water produced meets the national drinking standards of Jordan.
The RSS has registered a worldwide patent to commercialize the device through a spin-off company called AquaPoro Ventures Ltd, which aims to manufacture the machine in Jordan to bring water independence and security to families and communities by mid-2023.
The RSS sees this new technology as an important addition to an urgently needed armoury of tools to provide long-lasting global water solutions.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Jordan is scheduled to host the Global Social Media Forum (GSMF) next November 9-10.
In a statement on Saturday, CEO of Moments Innovation Company, the forum’s organizer, Ayman Irsheed, said logistical preparations to hold the conference have begun.
The conference features many Jordanian, Arab and foreign influencers in the social media, finance, economy and media sectors, he said.
The event, he said, is the largest of its kind in the Middle East, as it constitutes a “distinguished” gathering to understand and monitor role of social media and its social, psychological and promotional influence on the commercial and political levels.
Held regularly and periodically since 2014, he said Amman was picked to be the forum’s venue for successive years, mainly due to Jordan’s security and safety advantages, its openness, its cultural wealth and archeological monuments, which constitute a “qualitative” privilige and an added value.
Irsheed also expressed hope the forum would contribute to attract tourism to Jordan and enhance the Kingdom’s position as a major incubator in the Arab content industry on social media and digital media.
During a press conference soon, he said the forum’s activities will be announced, highlighting its key attendees and participants.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Northern military region troops thwarted an attempt at dawn Saturday to breach the border and smuggle in large quantities of drugs from Syria, according to the Jordan Armed Forces- Arab Army General Command.
A source at the command headquarters said that troops applied the rules of engagement, which led to the injury of one of the smugglers and the others retreated inside Syrian territory.
A vehicle loaded with large quantities of drugs, including 578 palm-sized sheets of hashish, 6447,000 Captagon pills, 1,876 Lyrica narcotic capsules, as well as devices and equipment set for smuggling were seized, the source said, adding that the contraband was referred to the competent authorities.
The source reiterated that JAF will deal with all force to prevent any infiltration or smuggling attempt, protect the border and stand firmly against those who try to tamper with Jordan’s national security.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Health Minister Firas Hawari Saturday opened an MRI unit at Ramtha Government Hospital, which was established with support from the United States.
Hawari said ruring the opening ceremony, which was attended by US Embassy staff, that the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) unit will provide service to about 260,000 people in Ramtha district, including about 70,000 Syrian refugees.
He said the new facility will accommodate a growing number of patients and visitors who need this type of radiography, pointing out that it will reduce the pressure on the Ministry’s hospitals in Irbid Governorate, and save time for patients.
The minister stressed that the ministry is continuing to improve health service in all its medical centers and hospitals and raise the efficiency and readiness of its infrastructure.
Hawari also inaugurated the new expansion of the physiotherapy ward in the hospital and also toured the filtration unit at the kidney section, where beds will be soon be increased from 16 to 30.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Muhammad Halbousi, warned on Saturday that Iraq could suffer from an economic crisis due to political rivalry.
Halbousi said during a session called by Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhimi to resolve the stifling political crisis that there is a surplus of $50 billion over oil export revenues for 2022.
He said in case the 2023 budget was not approved due to political rivalry, the current financial law would not allow the authorities to spend money, making the country vulnerable in the face of economic crises.
He noted that Iraq would face “looming” crises if the political stalemate persisted.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The Private Hospitals Association (PHA) Saturday received a tribute from Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh in recognition of the private hospitals’ role in fending off and combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The honouring ceremony was part of “The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Experience in Confronting Covid-19” conference. It was attended by ministers and officials who supported the fight against the pandemic.
The Association added in a statement that private hospitals had an “important” role in Jordan’s success in providing all necessary health services during the pandemic and supporting the efforts of the Ministry of Health (MoH) in addressing the pandemic.
It noted that during the pandemic, it provided 1,500 isolation beds and 350 intensive care beds in 30 private hospitals, in addition to admitting more than 30,000 patients and providing the COVID-19 vaccine for free in coordination with the MoH for about 400,000 people, especially those who suffer from chronic diseases or allergies.
Source: Jordan News Agency
“Jordan Summer 2022” festival’s activities were held on Friday, in the southern governorate of Karak’s historical Castle amid a “remarkable” public presence, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.
Director of Karak Tourism, Sate’ Assa’idah, said the festival aims to stimulate the tourism movement and introduce the historical and archaeological sites of the city of Karak, especially the castle’s landmarks, towers and squares, and provide a recreational environment for families.
Assa’idah also added that the events featured entertainment activities, children’s games and a folkloric concert performed by Ma’an folklore band.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The Kingdom is affected by a hot and dry heatwave, which is forecast to to continue until the beginning of September, Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said in its daily update.
During the hot spell period, mercury will rise significantly, as scorching weather will hit hilltops and plains, and very sweltering conditions will bake the Badia, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and Aqaba, the JMD added.
In its report, the JMD warns of the danger of exposure to direct sunlight midday, and the possibility of reduced horizontal visibility due to dust in the Badia regions.
The JMD also advised the public children and flammable materials must not left in closed vehicles.
According to the report, the impact of the hot and dry spell will deepen in the Kingdom on Sunday, as temperatures continue to rise to record 7-8 degrees Celsius higher than their seasonal averages. The weather will be hot in the hilltops and very searing in the Kingdom’s remaining areas.
Also today, mercury in the capital Amman will range between a high of 38 degrees Celsius and a low of 23C, while the port city of Aqaba will see a sweltering 42C, sliding to 29C at night.
Source: Jordan News Agency