Day: 17 May 2023

Weather today in Palestine is partially cloudy to clear and dry and hot with a drop in temperature, while remaining 6°C above the seasonal average, according to the Palestinian Meteorological Department (PMD). Winds are southwesteryly to northwesterly, and light to moderate. Sea waves are low. Temperature in the capital, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem is expected to reach a high of 32°C and a low of 22°C, and in Ramallah and Hebron a high of 31°C and a low of 21°C are expected. In Jericho, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Valley temperature is expected to reach a high of 40°C and a low of 27°C, while it is expected to reach a high of 31°C and a low of 23°C in Gaza and the coastal areas. Another drop in temperature is expected on Thursday, becoming around its annual average. Weather is expected to be partially cloudy and mild. Partially cloudy to mild conditions are expected for Friday, as temperature significantly drops and becomes 4°C below the seasonal average. Saturday’s weather is expected to be partially cloudy and mild, with a rise in temperature, while remaining 3°C above the seasonal average. The PMD warned people against direct exposure to the sun for long periods, particularly during peak hours from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, and setting fire to dry grassy areas.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

Minister of Government Communication, Faisal Shboul, on Wednesday chaired the first meeting of the Follow-up Team of Media and Information Literacy Project. Speaking during the meeting, Shboul said Jordan will soon host UNESCO conference: “Global Media and Information Literacy Week” next October, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in partnership with Ministry of Government Communication. Shboul added that the ministry began the “actual” preparation process to hold the conference, in cooperation with the relevant ministries and UNESCO. Shboul also stressed the government’s support to hold this “important” global event, which is scheduled to see participation of more than 800 people. He pointed to importance of the team’s role in presenting proposals and ideas on the upcoming conference’s agenda. Shboul also noted Jordan will seek during the conference to highlight its “pioneering” experience in media education fields, which is viewed an “urgent” necessity to counter the “accelerating” information chaos globally. In this regard, he lauded role of National Centre for Curriculum Development (NCCD) by introducing media concepts in the school curricula aimed to teach youth to think critically and reject extremism, hate speech and privacy violation. During the meeting, the team members discussed preparations to launch the project’s third phase to train teachers and faculty members in universities on media education, which kicked off two years ago, in cooperation with Jordan Media Institute.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, discussed today, Wednesday, with the Dutch Ambassador to Iraq, Hans Sandee, a paper of recommendations related to the justice project in Iraq.

In a brief statement, the judiciary media stated that, “The President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, received the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Iraq, Hans Sandee, accompanied by the representative of Al-Bayan Center for Studies and Planning, Ali Taher Al-Hamoud.”

It added, “The meeting came in order to present and discuss the recommendations paper on the justice project in Iraq, according to a program supported by the Dutch embassy.”/ End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Hneifat, stressed importance of continuous work to preserve quality of local agricultural products, to sustain export operations to foreign markets and support crop competitiveness. Hneifat’s remarks came during a preparatory meeting to ink a tripartite agreement between Jordanian-Palestinian Agricultural Marketing Company (JPACO) and Smart DESERT Company (SDC) to accredit the UAE-based Hily Holding PJSC to market Jordanian and Palestinian agricultural products in the UAE market. Addressing the meeting on Wednesday, Hneifat noted importance of taking measures to support exports of vegetables and fruits to find new markets globally and preserve the traditional destinations. JPACO General Manager, Aladdin Abu Khair, said engagement of a strategic partner for marketing in the UAE is “key” step to support the company’s efforts to restore market share of Jordanian and Palestinian agricultural products in the UAE market. Abu Khair noted signing the tripartite agreement soon will add to the previous accords inked with regional and international markets.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Iraqi National Security Service (INSS) announced, on Wednesday, the arrest of (10) accused of terrorism in several governorates.

In a statement, the INSS stated, “In continuation of the efforts of the Iraqi National Security Service in pursuing the remnants of ISIS terrorist gangs, our detachments in 4 governorates, based on accurate intelligence information and after obtaining the necessary judicial approvals, were able to arrest 10 suspects of terrorism.”

It added, “Our detachments in Nineveh governorate carried out judicial arrest warrants against 4 terrorism suspects, after careful field follow-up that led to their exact whereabouts, in addition to luring 2 others into a tight ambush in western Nineveh.”

In the governorates of Baghdad, Anbar and Diyala, the INSS confirmed that “our detachments arrested 4 wanted persons according to Article (1/4) of terrorism, as the accused were referred, after writing their statements, to the judicial authorities to receive their just punishment in accordance with the law.”/ End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The work of the preparatory meeting for the 32nd Arab Summit began in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the level of foreign ministers, with the participation of Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Miqdad./ End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The House of Representatives decided to adjourn its session to next Saturday, after it voted on a draft law on social security and retirement for workers.

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, announced the completion of the vote in full on the (Retirement and Social Security for Workers) Law. / End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The head of the Integrity Commission, Haider Hanoun, expressed his hope that Iraq and the UAE would join forces to confront corruption.

The Commission said in a statement that the head of the commission, Haider Hanoun, met, on the sidelines of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Iraqi Federal Integrity Commission and the UAE Audit Bureau, with the head of Interpol, Major General Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi, to discuss ways of cooperation between the two parties in the field of combating corruption and recovering convicts and smuggled funds. .

During the meeting, which took place in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, and was attended by the Director of Arab and International Police in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, Major General Alaa al-Abadi, Hanoun stressed that “the Iraqi government headed by Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani focused in its government program on combating corruption, preventing its spread, punishing its perpetrators, and recovering stolen funds. This is in the priorities of its objectives, in light of the support and backing of the legislative and judicial authorities,” expressing optimism “to extend bridges of cooperation with the Arab brothers who have ties of brotherhood with Iraq, which contributes to cooperation in all fields, especially in combating corruption and recovering its funds and those convicted of it.”

He praised “the achievements made by the United Arab Emirates in the field of security and money management,” pointing out that “Iraq and the UAE should unite to confront the dangers of corruption and prosecute its perpetrators and recovering stolen Funds.”

He invited the Inspector General of the Interior in the United Arab Emirates, the Director of International Interpol, to visit Iraq, and to hold a conference in the capital, Baghdad, for the countries cooperating in the field of recovering looted funds.

For his part, Major General Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi praised “Iraq’s efforts in its endeavor to eradicate the scourge of corruption from state institutions and to impose deterrent penalties against the corrupt,” expressing his hope that “Iraq will be among the advanced countries in the field of preventing and combating corruption and recovering its funds .”

He indicated that he “felt sincere and serious intentions from the Iraqi side in combating corruption,” calling for “Iraq to be a member within the Interpol organization because of its accumulated experience in this field.”/ End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency