Day: February 5, 2023

Amman, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh directed the concerned ministries, institutions and agencies to observe the highest levels of readiness and preparedness to deal with the expected weather conditions in the coming days.

In a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Khasawneh called for coordinating between all concerned agencies, opening operating rooms and maintaining their work, starting as of today until the end of the expected weather conditions.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Local Administration, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Ministry of Interior, and the Greater Amman Municipality to direct their field cadres to take all necessary measures to deal with the expected effects or repercussions of the air depression, ensure the readiness of facilities and the availability of services for citizens, as well as dealing with any complaints or observations received immediately and within the highest levels of response.

He also called for concentrating on sites and places that may witness water pools or runoffs, whether within Amman, or in the governorates, stressing the need to deal with any such cases in a way that preserves the safety of citizens and prevents damage to public or private property.

He also directed the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to monitor the conditions of dams in a timely manner and to ensure their readiness to receive the expected quantities of water.

On the other hand, the Cabinet approved mandating reasons for the Solidarity Fund draft law to reduce agricultural risks for 2023, and referred it to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau to proceed with the procedures for its issuance in accordance with the rules.

The Cabinet also approved mandating reasons for the draft administrative organization regulation for the Cities and Villages Development Bank for 2023

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, Head of the Lower House Energy and Mineral Resources Committee, MP Talal Ensour, stressed the importance of “optimally” benefiting from Jordan’s mineral resources, in a bid to build a “better” future for coming generations.

Chairing a committee meeting on Sunday, attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Kharabsheh, Ensour stressed the need to take advantage of investment opportunities in Jordan’s energy sector and memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Al-Majarrah for Oil Shale Com. to exploit oil shale in southern Lajjun area.

Ensour stressed need to seize investment opportunities in the energy sector, which would have a “major” role in achieving Jordan’s development and creating job opportunities.

The lawmaker noted discussion of the MoU aims to dodge incurring the state Treasury any amounts in the event of an error, adding that the memo signed with Al-Majarrah for Oil Shale Com. and Natural Resources Authority (NRA) to exploit oil shale was inked with a newly established firm in the energy field.

For his part, Kharabsheh said geological studies revealed phosphates reserves within areas of the Risha Basin, as a tender was floated, adding that “the appropriate offer was picked.”

Jordan is divided into 10 areas for oil exploration, he said, adding that the ministry is awaiting outcomes on Sarhan well deposits, as the project is implemented during the exploration phase by national teams, in cooperation with National Petroleum Company PLC (NPC), he said.

Regarding the memo signed with Al-Majarrah for Oil Shale Com., he noted: “MoU is not binding to the government, and does not incur any expenses.”

The minister also noted: ” This company wants to study 15 square kilometers for a 2-year period. If terms and conditions are implemented, the MoU is approved according to an agreement and sent to Jordan’s Parliament”.

With regard to the deputies’ inquiries about Iraqi oil deliveries, Kharabsheh said Jordan’s agreement with Iraq to supply oil to Jordan at preferential prices expires at end of next March, after it was finally renewed for a 3-month period.

Jordan cannot receive more than 15,000 barrels per day due to the nature of oil and Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company Ltd (JPRC) capacity, he said.

Also, Kharabsheh said talks were held with Iraqi oil minister aimed to renewing the agreement and increasing Jordan’s share, stressing that “Iraq made promises to increase oil quantity exported to Jordan if the required quantities are available.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, The National Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases Centre (NEIDC) recently discussed status of rapid response teams in various national institutions and development of their work.

According to a NEIDC statement issued on Sunday, its head, Raeda Qutob, said the meeting aims to provide a “clear” understanding of the rapid response teams and their role in protecting society from health risks.

The meeting, which was attended by representatives of agriculture, environment, and water ministries, in addition to Royal Medical Services (RMS), comes within NEIDC’s action plan in developing national response teams for health emergencies, the statement said.

The statement added that discussions also went over the necessary steps to identify staff of the national rapid response teams in various institutions and launch operations in a “timely and effective” manner based on scientific evidence.

The participants discussed the necessary steps to build a comprehensive database of rapid response teams at the national level, primarily human resources, logistical capabilities and main criteria to develop health emergency response teams at the national level.

The center, in cooperation with Ministry of Health and all concerned authorities, developed an action plan to deal with the rapid response teams, build and improve their capabilities and efficiency, its statement announced.

This effort primarily focuses on updating guidelines, strategies, policies and the teams’ standard operating procedures, building their capabilities and aligning their work mechanisms with the latest scientific developments, NEIDC said.

In addition, the center called on all concerned authorities to cooperate and coordinate their efforts to achieve the common goal of protecting public health and ensuring rapid response teams’ efficiency.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Aqaba, The Aqaba Magistrate Court started hearing the defense’s closing arguments in the Aqaba toxic gas leak case, which occurred on June 27, 2022, claiming the lives of 13 people and injuring 142 others.

Defense attorneys of the 11 defendants, who are facing seven charges including 13 counts of involuntary manslaughter and 142 counts of causing injury, called upon several witnesses.

The court has been holding weekly sessions since it received the case on July 18, 2022. It finished hearing the testimonies of all 142 public prosecution witnesses in late December 2022.

In their testimony in court, some of the victims stated that they had no desire to pursue a claim against the defendants.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) on Sunday assured that a brand of artificial tears lubricant eye drops called “Ezricare,” which was recalled from the United States market, is not JFDA approved and therefore is not distributed in the Kingdom.

The JFDA’s Director General Nizar Mheidat underlined that none of the manufacturing company’s medical supplies are JFDA approved after the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning and a recall for the Ezricare eye drops over reports of microbial contamination that has led to vision loss and, in some cases, death.

To ensure the quality and effectiveness of approved eye drops, the JFDA’s regulations require the existence of preservatives in the product at specific levels and concentrations to reduce the possibility of microbial contamination.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, A newly designed JD50 bill containing enhanced security features went into circulation on Sunday as part of the 5th issue, which is the first in 20 years.

The Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) said that other denominations of the issue (5 dinars, 10 dinars, and 20 dinars) will gradually enter circulation and be interchangeable with older notes.

The new JD50 bill, like the JD1 denomination revealed in late December 2022, includes upgraded, durable paper quality in addition to the industry’s most cutting-edge security features.

Detailing the changes, the CBJ said that when the note is lifted under a light, a watermark of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the denomination 50 will be visible. When tilted, a 3D security thread and a holographic patch with the 3D seven-looped star will also be visible. It also noted the use of raised ink and raised lines that can be felt upon holding the bill.

Source: Jordan News Agency