Day: January 25, 2023

Doha, His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday met with Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, with discussions covering the deep-rooted ties between the two countries.

According to a royal court statement, the meeting focused on prospects for expanding political, economic, and investment cooperation between Jordan and Qatar, in the best interest of the two countries.

King Abdullah and Sheikh Tamim stressed the importance of maintaining consultation and coordination between the two countries on issues of mutual concern and in service of Arab causes and regional stability and cooperation.

The meeting also covered regional and international developments, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, with His Majesty reaffirming the need to step up efforts to revive peace prospects on the basis of the two-state solution, and stressing the importance of stopping all illegal Israeli measures that undermine this solution.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, General Intelligence Department Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni, Jordan’s Ambassador to Qatar Zaid Lozi, and senior Qatari officials attended the meeting.

Earlier, the King was received at Doha International Airport by Sheikh Tamim and a number of senior Qatari officials, as well as Jordan’s ambassador in Doha and senior staff from the embassy.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Amman, The President of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, Wednesday presided over the last meeting of the WAFF Executive Committee, whose mandate has officially ended.

Prince Ali thanked the members of the outgoing Executive Committee members for their support for the Federation and their work to ensure its progress.

He said the members of the Executive Committee were a “major” factor in the successes of WAFF, noting that “the experiences accumulated by all members of the committee and harnessed by them to serve the federation and its programmes contributed to the federation continuing to fulfil its mission and carry out its duties.”

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Baghdad, The Former Iraqi Prime Minister and leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, Wednesday commended the “unforgettable” Jordan and King Abdullah II’s support for Iraq, especially in combatting terrorism.

Al-Maliki said, “We appreciate Jordan’s position, whose borders never witnessed the crossing into Iraq of any terrorist or someone who wanted to tamper with the security and stability of Iraq,” noting the importance of standing by Jordan against the backdrop of the economic “difficulties” it is going through.

During a meeting with a Jordanian media delegation in Baghdad, he added that the relationship between Jordan and Iraq is “historical and coordination continues between them for the benefit of the two countries.”

He added that Iraq is undertaking several projects in energy and construction, explaining that this is a “promising” opportunity in Iraq that could be built on to further economic ties between the two countries.

Al-Maliki noted the importance of the media’s role in conveying the “true” picture, maximising achievements, highlighting positive aspects and checking rumours.

The Jordanian Ambassador to Iraq, Montaser Uqla, talked about what he described as “constructive” and fruitful cooperation between the two countries, noting the role of the press in delivering a message characterised by transparency and credibility.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Ramallah, A Palestinian child Wednesday succumbed to wounds he sustained from Israeli forces’ fire when the latter stormed a refugee camp in occupied Jerusalem to demolish a family home, the Health Ministry reported.

The Palestinian victim had been shot in the chest by an Israeli sniper. He was rushed to the hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life; nonetheless, his injury was critical, the Ministry explained.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Amman, At least 105 people in Afghanistan were killed due to the extreme weather and low temperatures that had impacted the country, the Afghan Ministry of Disaster Management reported Wednesday.

The Afghan Khaama Press news agency cited the Ministry as saying that temperatures in the country dropped to minus 28 degrees Celsius, disrupting the distribution of aid to vulnerable families.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, almost 28.3 million people are in “dire” need of humanitarian assistance.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Cairo, Minister of Culture, Haifaa Najjar, on Wednesday met her Egyptian counterpart, Nevin Kilani, in the presence of Jordan’s Ambassador to Cairo, Amjad Adaileh, as part of the activities of the 54th 2023 Cairo International Book Fair.

Jordan is the guest of honor at the fair, which saw participation of Jordanian writers, thinkers, 85 publishing houses and official and civil institutions, according to a ministry statement.

During the meeting, Najjar invited Egypt to be guest of honor at Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts in its next edition, stressing the importance of strengthening cultural Jordanian-Egyptian relations aimed to strengthen “deep-rooted” ties in all fields.

Lauding “remarkable” facilitations provided to Jordanian pavilion, Najjar noted the fair witnessed a “qualitative” leap this year, culminated in the organizers’ “great” efforts that contributed to its success.

For her part, Kilani stressed the importance of increasing joint cooperation at the cultural level, in line with the two countries’ “solid” relations.

Kilani also noted the “distinguished” design of Jordan’s pavilion, which contributed to shedding light on the Kingdom’s cultural identity, creative products and heritage.

During the meeting, the duo reviewed aspects of joint action and ways to increase joint cultural exchange in the future, the statement said.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Amman, His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday was briefed on the government’s programme to implement the Economic Modernisation Vision in the industry, labour, and tourism sectors, within a specific timeframe.

During a meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Abdullah stressed the importance of working to ensure the projects under the vision are implemented successfully by having the required tools, qualified human resources, and funding.

His Majesty urged identifying the roles and responsibilities of each employee at the relevant ministries, and tying performance assessments to project implementation.

The King also called for keeping the public informed on the progress of implementing the economic vision, in order to maintain transparency and accountability.

His Majesty said the delivery unit at the Prime Ministry must follow up with each ministry on progress in implementation and check for any delays or inconsistencies.

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh gave a briefing on the monthly programme of priorities for the concerned ministries, noting that nine ministries so far have identified these priorities and the projects that fall under them within the Economic Modernisation Vision.

The prime minister noted that work is underway to set up an electronic system to monitor delivery and execution, submitting monthly and quarterly reports on progress.

Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply and Minister of Labour Yousef Shamali, and Tourism Minister Makram Queisi gave a briefing on their ministries’ programmes and tasks within the economic vision.

Shamali said the industry and labour ministries’ priorities include building and developing a centre for exhibitions, devising and implementing a national strategy for exports over the next two years, and preparing industry policies to focus on high-value sectors such as the textile and pharmaceutical industries.

He also referred to plans to establish a technical training centre specialised in hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as heavy machinery.

Queisi said the tourism ministry’s priorities within the economic vision include developing the tourism product and the historical narrative of archaeological sites, encouraging tourists to extend their stays, and streamlining measures for investors in the sector.

The minister also pointed to plans to regulate adventure tourism, bolster cooperation with the Public Security Directorate to ensure tourists’ security and safeguard tourism sites, implementing promotional campaigns, and developing conference and medical tourism.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Amman, His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday departed on a working visit to Qatar, at the start of a tour that also includes Canada and the United States.

In Doha, King Abdullah is scheduled to meet with Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

From Doha, His Majesty heads to Ottawa on an official visit, where he will meet with Canada Governor General Mary Simon and hold talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In Washington, DC, the King will hold meetings with members of key US Congress committees.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II was sworn in as Regent, in the presence of Cabinet members.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Irbid, Director General of the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC), Ahmed Gharaibeh, on Wednesday discussed with Deputy Director International Assistance at Global Affairs Canada, Jane Palmer, and her accompanying delegation, ways to develop cooperation aspects between VTC and World University Service of Canada (WUSC) within the project of women economic empowerment and career development in Jordan (Women Leaders).

During the meeting, which was held at Irbid Girls Institute for Vocational Training, Palmer was briefed on the accredited and gender-sensitive training programs provided by “Women Leaders” project in the sectors of health, early childhood development and care services for Jordanian young women.

Palmer also met a number of employers, trainees and trainers, and toured the institute’s workshops and nursery.

Expressing VTC’s pride in partnership with the Canadian side within Women Leaders project, Gharaibeh stressed keenness to enhance cooperation and partnership to develop training programs to keep pace with modern technology, future skills, and needs of the local and regional labor market in the coming years.

Partnership in this project began in 2018 to enable young women to join the VTC’s quality training programs in all the Kingdom’s governorates, he said, adding that this cooperation helped VTC win El Hassan Bin Talal Award for Scientific Excellence for 2022, which is awarded to vocational and technical education institutions.

Gharaibeh said VTC is continuing to implement its strategic plan and strengthen its partnership with all development sectors and donors to provide quality opportunities for youth and work to develop Jordan’s training services.

For her part, Director of WUSC in Jordan, Nancy Momani, lauded VTC’s role in empowering women in Jordan and providing them with quality training programs.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY