Day: February 22, 2024

Sun aligned Thursday morning on the statute of Ramses II in Aswan’s Abu Simbel Temple on a rare phenomenon that happens twice a year; on February 22 and October 22.

Director of the Aswan tourism and antiquities sector Abdel Moneim Saeed said the phenomenon started at 6:22 am and lasted for 20 minutes.

Preparations were made to mark the phenomenon which attracts tourists and visitors.

On October and February 22, a shaft of sunlight pierces the gloom, illuminating statues of the sun gods Re-Horakhte and Amon-Re, as well as a statue of king Ramses II in the temple’s inner sanctuary.

The main temple at Abu Simbel, which Ramses ordered to be built near the border of Nubia and Upper Egypt, was dedicated to two sun gods, Amen-Re and Re-Horakhte. Standing 100 feet (33 meters) tall, the temple was carved into an already-standing sandstone mountain on the banks of the Nile.

Four colossal statues of Ramses, each 66 feet (22 meters) high, guard the entrance to the temple. Rising to the pharaoh’s knees are smaller st
atues of family members: his mother; favorite wife, Nefertari; and son, Prince Amonherkhepshef.

Inside the temple, three connected halls extend 185 feet (56 meters) into the mountain. Images of the king’s life and many achievements adorn the walls. A second temple at Abu Simbel is dedicated to Nefartari, who appears to have been Ramses’ favorite wife.

The Abu Simbel temples do not sit in their original location. The High Dam building threatened the temples at Abu Simbel. Members of the United Nations Education, Science, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) orchestrated a massive construction project that moved the temple back 690 feet to its present site.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Amman: US Ambassador in Amman, Yael Lempert, said that the timing of His Majesty King Abdullah II’s visit to Washington was very suitable and that his meeting with President Joe Biden was very essential.

In an interview with Jordan Television on Thursday, she added that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the best course of action. It was noted that President Biden was the most frequent guest of His Majesty the King, who also met with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and numerous Democratic and Republican members of the US Congress.

She said that His Majesty and President Biden talked about the most recent events in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and the area as a whole.

Lempert noted that the two leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to cooperating in order to put an end to the current crisis, find a long-term solution, and work toward achieving a thorough and durable peace within the framework of the two-state solution.

They reaffirmed their commitment to facilita
ting and boosting the amount of humanitarian supplies going to the Gaza Strip and went into great detail about how it will get there.

President Biden emphasized the need of maintaining the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s historical status quo and said that Jordan has always had a significant historical role on the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem.

Speaking on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the two nations’ diplomatic relations’ establishment, the US ambassador noted that the two nations are allies and partners bound by a deep friendship after 75 years of strategic partnership, which bears witness to their shared goals of pursuing regional peace and prosperity.

She reviewed the areas in which the two friendly nations collaborated together in a number of fields as they inked numerous agreements, such as the 2022 memorandum of understanding, which is the longest-term agreement the two have ever signed with this amount of aid, spanning seven years and containing ten billion dollars in US aid. It focuses on assisting
the Jordanian government and regional organizations and shows how committed the US is to Jordan’s success.

The accord additionally advances the growth of the private sector, fosters and expands economic prospects for women and youth, bolsters Jordan’s financial stability, and supports the health, education, and tourism industries. This reaffirms what President Biden emphasized to His Majesty the King on his visit to Washington: that America’s support for Jordan is unwavering and solid, and that the two nations have a strong and lasting partnership.

The US ambassador said that the foundation of the two nations’ partnership is supporting Jordan’s development and economic growth, including the creation of job opportunities and the improvement of Jordan’s economic circumstances. This pertains to the relationships that have grown over time to enhance economic growth and develop economic relations.

She noted that the two nations signed the first free trade agreement between the United States and an Arab nation i
n 2000. She also noted that since then, trade relations have developed remarkablely, with Jordanian exports to the US reaching a record 24 years after trading began. Following the agreement’s signature, Jordan’s export volume climbed by 20 percent, with the US ranking as its third-largest trading partner.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Jordanian-Saudi Parliamentary Brotherhood Committee, led by MP Thiab Masaeed, visited Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, aiming to bolster ties between the two nations.

During discussions with Governor of Riyadh Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz and Prince Fahd bin Jalawi, the delegation emphasized the importance of deepening parliamentary relations, fostering cultural bonds, and expanding cooperation across various sectors.

The Jordanian delegation, comprising Eid Naimat, Suleiman Qalab, Tawfiq Maraya, Nawaf Khawaldeh, Salama Balawi, and Fulaiha Subaitan, engaged in talks with Vice-Speaker of the Saudi Shura Council, Mishaal Bin Mohammad Al-Salmi, focusing on avenues to enhance parliamentary cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties.

Both sides highlighted the robust relations between Jordan and Saudi Arabia at all levels, lauding the leadership’s commitment to regional peace, stability, and strategic partnership amid regional cha
llenges.

Meetings with Ibrahim Qannas, Chairman of the Saudi-Jordanian Parliamentary Friendship Committee, and Wael Idrissi, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saudi Shura Council, centered on bolstering relations and addressing regional challenges, including border security issues.

Discussions with Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih and Hamdan Al-Samreen, Chairman of the Saudi-Jordanian Business Council, focused on economic challenges and opportunities to enhance the investment environment, fostering economic cooperation for mutual benefit.

The delegation also met with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Abdel Fattah Mashat to express gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s efforts in facilitating Hajj rituals and discussed plans to increase the number of Jordanian pilgrims.

On the visit’s sidelines, the delegation attended the closing ceremony of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Camel Festival in Janadriyah, further strengthening cultural ties.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Jordan and Oman, on Thursday, inked three memoranda of understanding (MoU) meant to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the areas of luring direct investment, investment opportunities, and promoting and assisting foreign commerce.

The first MoU, which was signed by the Ministries of Investment of Jordan and the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment Promotion, called for cooperation between the two parties in luring direct investment, in the sectors and activities that are open to investment, in compliance with the rules and laws that apply to both nations, and in a manner that benefits both parties.

The second MoU between the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that both parties wished to expand their business ties and foster economic cooperation while also promoting and enhancing trade promotion and support of foreign trade within their nation. Additionally, the memorandum encouraged the establishment of partnerships
for investment and trade between the two business sectors.

The third one, was also signed between the Jordanian and Omani private sectors in the field of supply and trade.

Jordan exported $70.2 million worth of goods to the Sultanate of Oman in 2022, while Jordan imported $57.4 million worth of goods from Oman.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Jordanian Embassy in Cairo called on Jordanians residing and visiting Egypt to adhere to the instructions issued by the official Egyptian authorities for exchanging and carrying cash amounts set in Egyptian or foreign currencies, while inside Egyptian territory and its airports.

In a statement on Thursday, the embassy stressed the necessity of exchanging currency at banks and exchange companies approved for this purpose.

The embassy said this process is based on the instructions issued by Central Bank of Egypt, warning against violating the guidelines set and shun exchanging currency from unauthorized parties under penalty of legal liability.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates for Diplomatic Affairs Ambassador Majid Qatarneh Thursday, received a copy of the credentials of Ambassador of the Republic of Georgia, Archil Dzuliashvili, as accredited and resident ambassador to Jordan.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh met in the Senate on Thursday with Speaker Faisal Fayez and the Chairman and members of the Finance and Economy Committee in the Senate, in the presence of a number of ministers and the Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan, to discuss the draft General Budget Law for the year 2024.

The Speaker of the Senate stated that Jordan is facing economic challenges due to current regional conditions, the lingering impact of the Corona pandemic, and the Russian-Ukrainian war affecting prices of goods and energy.

He underscored the shared responsibility of all sectors in addressing these challenges with national determination, ensuring Jordan’s continued progress under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II.

Fayez stressed the importance of crafting an economic strategy to counter the aftermath of the war on Gaza, emphasizing the need to prevent unemployment among Jordanians after the Israeli aggression ends.

He emphasized the significance of prioritizing the agricultu
ral sector and food security projects, given their role as major employers, urging comprehensive support and necessary facilitations to enhance their effectiveness.

The Speaker of the Senate underlined the need for transparency in addressing economic conditions, stressing dialogue with citizens and activating the Ministry of Investment to alleviate investment obstacles, combat tax evasion, and bolster the social safety net while initiating major projects to alleviate poverty and unemployment.

He underscored the importance of financial and economic reforms to overcome budget deficits and develop implementable economic plans tailored to specific timeframes, leveraging Jordan’s comparative advantages across sectors.

Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet for their efforts to enhance the national economy and living standards, he affirmed Jordan’s ability to overcome challenges with the wisdom of the King and the awareness of its people.

Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh confirmed the governme
nt’s approval of a tax-free budget for the fourth consecutive year, highlighting the ongoing comprehensive modernization project led by King Abdullah II to achieve political, economic, and administrative goals over a decade.

He highlighted Jordan’s successful reviews with the International Monetary Fund and the recent agreement on a new program worth $1.2 billion until 2028, designed with Jordanian input.

Khasawneh emphasized Jordan’s secure conditions, lowest inflation rates in the region, and unprecedented $18 billion strategic foreign reserve, attributing these achievements to the prudent policies of the Central Bank of Jordan.

He reiterated Jordan’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and its positive economic performance despite challenges, with 90% of the 2024 draft budget funded by local revenues, signaling progress towards self-reliance.

Khasawneh pointed to developing an electronic monitoring system for economic modernization, emphasizing the importance of enhancing the investment envi
ronment and attracting both local and foreign investments to drive growth and create job opportunities for Jordanians.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Jordan Hashemite Charitable Organization (JHCO) dispatched a new medical aid plane for Gaza people, which will be delivered to Gaza en route Rafah crossing.

The aircraft, which was sent in cooperation with Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF), in coordination with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and with joint support from UNFPA, carried drugs and medical consumables, according to a JHCO statement.

JHCO Secretary General, Hussein Shibli, said the organization sent cargo of the new plane as part of Jordan’s efforts to support health sector in Gaza.

Shibli added that: “We are updating list of priorities to help Gaza people with a special focus on supporting its health sector, based on information that JHCO constantly receives about the situation on the ground and its worsening reality.”

Under Royal directives, Shibli pointed out that JHCO “does not hesitate for a moment and spares no effort in sending aid to Gaza people,” indicating that work is underway and ongoing to send more aid in the comin
g days.

To date, a total of 55 planes were sent from Jordan to Gaza people carrying medical, food and relief supplies, the statment announced.

JHCO continues to receive cash donations through its bank account at Bank al Etihad No. (JO32 UBSI 1030 0000 4010 1659 9151 06) or through e-wallets, or through clicking (JHCOGAZA), in addition to ” eFAWATEERcom ” and via its website

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Senate’s Financial and Economic Committee on Thursday approved the draft general budget law for the fiscal year 2024 as sent earlier from the Lower House.

The bill’s approval came during the committee’s meeting Thursday, headed by Dr. Rajai Muasher, in presence of Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammad Ississ.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on Thursday re-floated tender to install a 3D seismic survey in southern Al-Jafr region aimed to develop the area’s oil infrastructure.

The tender comes within the Economic Modernization Vision and priority framework to complete work on the Kingdom’s oil and gas development project, according to a ministry statement.

The ministry called on interested parties to view tender details on its website (www.memr.gov.jo) and set the last date for submitting the bid documents as of next March 14.

Earlier, the ministry invited a tender to build this seismic system in Al-Jafr region on an area of 4,285 km2, with a distance of 12.5 meters between shot points and a depth of 3,000 meters with high quality.

Source: Jordan News Agency