Day: 26 August 2023

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has lamented that ‘no one today wants a settlement’ in the country. ‘But it is the thing we need the most. A settlement for the sake of the country and not for the sake of any party in this or that camp,’ Jumblat added, in an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper published Friday. ‘I don’t understand the justifications of some Christian parties who are rejecting dialogue. There is no alternative to sitting around a dialogue table. We sit and talk and see what happens afterwards,’ Jumblat added. ‘It is true that Hezbollah has nominated Suleiman Franjieh and is clinging to him, but it is possible to reach a middle-ground solution with it if we sit and talk, instead of prior rejection which amplifies the crisis instead of resolving it,’ the Druze leader went on to say. He added that it is possible to negotiate with Hezbollah over ‘another candidate.’ ‘We must sit with (Hezbollah chief) Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, not only for electing a president but also for the sake of Lebanon’s future,’ Jumblat urged.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

After former minister Wael Bou Faour brought up the issue of carcinogenic agricultural pesticides being used in Lebanon and the smuggling mafia behind it, Bou Faour announced that he had filed a report and received a promise from the prosecutor of the judiciary that action would be taken. He added during LBCI’s Nharkom Said TV show that there is ‘so far no news of any action, but we might see it in the coming days.’ He indicated that after raising the issue, he received information about other companies, saying: ‘I refrained from disclosing names to give the judiciary and security agencies time to act.’ He also explained how these pesticides enter the country, stating that ‘there is a portion that enters through smuggling, and here I question the role of customs, especially since the big names are known and they are currently trying to hide the goods. Therefore, there is a need for the authorities to expedite their actions. Another portion enters through the Port of Beirut, and soon we will open the file of neglect at the port.’ He pointed out that he raised the issue because he took on this matter when he assumed the Ministry of Health, and there are ongoing special investigations. He described what is happening as organized crime. ‘All Lebanese food is unsafe, just like water. There is no oversight or testing. Even medicines are feared,’ he added. Bou Faour emphasized the need to withdraw these substances as a preliminary step, especially in the absence of the Food Safety Authority that we need as a reference, despite the appointment of its president without its existence. According to his information, some were involved in introducing insecticides as agricultural pesticides and some of them had the Ministry of Health’s approval label on their packaging through manipulation. They receive approval even though some deceive the Ministry of Health. ‘How can hundreds of tons of insecticides enter beyond the needs of the Lebanese state without catching the attention of those concerned?’ he asked. He also noted that the danger of solid waste on health is greater than the danger of sewage, and recently, there has been no inspection of any industrial plant to verify the operation of purification stations. In the political aspect, Bou Faour believed that there was no serious movement, considering that the French message had been exaggerated. ‘What’s the difference between sending a message or holding meetings here?’ he asked. He pointed out that there are serious names on the table, and that they must make good choices, ‘especially since waiting for external initiatives will not yield results.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad on Thursday announced that a reconnaissance permit has been granted to a consortium of international companies to conduct a 3D seismic survey of Lebanon’s offshore Block 8. ‘Today is a historic day in a journey that had started in the year 2010,’ Fayyad said at a press conference. The minister’s announcement coincided with the beginning of gas exploration in Block 9. ‘There are major hopes pinned on this block (#8) … and it had not been possible to launch the survey prior to demarcating the border with Israel, something that took place (last year),’ Fayyad added. Cash-strapped Lebanon hopes that future gas discoveries will help it pull itself out of the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history. In 2017, Lebanon approved licenses for an international consortium including France’s TotalEnergies, Italy’s ENI and Russia’s Novatek to move forward with offshore oil and gas development for two of 10 blocks in the Mediterranean. The borders of one of the two blocks were disputed by neighboring Israel until a maritime border deal was reached last year. In January, Lebanon, ENI, TotalEnergies and state-owned oil and gas company Qatar Energy signed an agreement in which the Qatari firm replaced Novatek. Under the deal, Qatar Energy will take Novatek’s 20% stake in addition to 5% each from ENI and TotalEnergies, leaving the Arab company with a total stake of 30%. Total and ENI will each have 35% stakes. Under the U.S.-mediated deal between Lebanon and Israel that was signed in October, the disputed waters would be divided along a line straddling the ‘Qana’ natural gas field in the Mediterranean. Gas production would be based on the Lebanese side, but Israel would be compensated for gas extracted from its side of the line under a separately signed deal between TotalEnergies and Israel.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Haj Hassan, indicated in an interview with Al-Hurra Channel that ‘the Ministry of Agriculture has been working for four years on a project with the FAO organization to keep pace with combating illegal medicines, continuously conducting tours accompanied by the General Directorate of State Security and the concerned judiciary to close all unlicensed agricultural pharmacies located in many areas that sell spoiled and toxic medicines.” He emphasized that his ministry is working in full capacity and with great efforts to address this issue, and has written to all security forces and leaders, including the army command, to tighten and control the borders with regard to smuggling vegetables and fruits into Lebanon. Hajj Hassan also revealed that “the ministry’s teams carried out an inspection today in various Lebanese regions, with the support of state security and the concerned judiciary, whereby a number of non-Lebanese agricultural products were seized to protect the Lebanese products.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Air traffic controllers at the Rafik Hariri International Airport announced on Thursday they would go on strike next month over severe staffing shortages, partially closing the Beirut hub. The announcement by the team of 13 air traffic controllers follows a report last week by the European Union’s aviation safety watchdog that raised concerns after inspecting the airport, just south of the Lebanese capital. The airport is supposed to have a staff of 87 air traffic controllers, the controllers said. Lebanon’s has been in the grip of a devastating economic crisis since late 2019 after decades of corruption and mismanagement. Public sector and state institutions have steadily deteriorated as the cash-strapped government struggles to provide adequate funding. The Beirut airport has faced power cuts and equipment shortages for months during the busy tourism season. Over 4 million people flew into Lebanon since the beginning of the year. The strike would begin Sept. 5 and the controllers would not work overnight, between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and International Civil Aviation Organization said in a report carried by Lebanese media last week that its inspection of Beirut’s airport earlier this summer detailed multiple safety concerns, including a severe shortage of air traffic controllers. The controllers said in their statement that the government has ignored their repeated proposals to resolve the issue, including bringing in experts from abroad to help, and dismissed their safety concerns. They said that they work roughly 300 hours a month, and ‘most of us are above 50 years old.’ Government officials have not responded to the announcement. The country’s General Directorate of Civil Aviation last week said that the airport staff shortage is part of a global issue impacted by the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. It said authorities were training new staff with ICAO’s support.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Jordan has achieved an environmental milestone, securing its place as the leading Arab nation in ambient air quality for 2022, based on data from American Bayle University which examined the environmental performance of 180 countries worldwide. This significant announcement was made by Environment Minister Muawiya Radaydah during a dialogue session at the “A Year on Modernization” government forum. Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh was also in attendance. Minister Radaydah unveiled that the Ministry of Environment has revamped its strategy for 2023-2025 to align with the broader economic modernization vision. This includes the inception of a study to gauge green employment prospects in the nation, pinpointing sectors ripe for creating environmentally friendly jobs. Concurrently, a Climate and Development Report for 2022 was released, drawing connections between climate factors and developmental prospects. A plethora of initiatives are underway, including the launch of the Sustainability Award – Circular Economy to galvanize the industrial realm towards more sustainable practices. This is complemented by the Roots initiative, aiming to augment green spaces and uphold forest conservation through reforestation endeavors. Furthermore, a dedicated section for “Extended Product Responsibility Program Management” has been initiated, aiming to curtail packaging waste, a collaborative effort with the private sector. However, challenges persist. Radaydah highlighted that elevating environmental awareness remains paramount, especially concerning waste management and impromptu dumping. Enhancing capabilities to adapt to climate change and transitioning towards a green economy are also on the Ministry’s agenda. Supporting the green movement, CEO of Jordan Kuwait Bank, Haitham Batikhi, emphasized the bank’s commitment towards fostering a sustainable future. The bank has been an advocate for green financing since 2010, channeling funds exceeding $200 million towards energy and water projects. Notably, a solar power facility catering to more than 70% of the bank’s energy requirements was established, reducing annual carbon emissions by a substantial 1,650 tons. Meanwhile, Nidal Oran from the United Nations Development Program lauded Jordan’s proactive stance on climate change, highlighting the economic modernization vision as a testament to the Kingdom’s dedication towards sustainability and a green economy. Elisaveta Kostova, Manager of the “Green Manufacturing in Enterprises” Project, sponsored by the German government’s international development and cooperation arm (GIZ), underscored the urgency of bolstering green industrial policies. She advocated for enhanced inter-ministerial collaboration, expediting green investments, and refining green business development services. In conclusion, Jordan’s multifaceted approach towards creating an environmentally sustainable future is evident. As the Kingdom continues to prioritize and invest in green initiatives, it serves as a beacon for the Arab world and beyond.

Source: Jordan News Agency

During the “A Year on Modernization” forum, marking the first anniversary of the economic modernization vision’s inauguration, discussions in the “Sustainable Resources” session delved into the best practices for harnessing sustainable resources. On Saturday, the Minister of Water and Irrigation, Muhammad Najjar, discussed the ministry’s efforts, highlighting the safeguarding of the Wadi Shuaib Dam from sedimentation and the commencement of infrastructure for natural gas delivery to the Industrial Quweira Directorate in Aqaba. Additionally, the ministry has kickstarted a project to rejuvenate the Al-Zara-Ma’in station, aiming to provide the capital with 100,000 cubic meters of water. Efforts also span implementing strategies to decrease water wastage and operating a biogas energy venture at the Aqaba purification facility. Najjar revealed that since the 2013 crackdown on water source infringements, 1,458 illegal wells have been dismantled, and 86,616 infractions on water pipelines were apprehended, with 5,134 of those seizures happening in the first half of this year alone. He also addressed the ministry’s future direction, which includes drafting a strategic roadmap for the National Electric Power Company, amplifying energy efficiency initiatives, and expanding wastewater treatment services. Chairman of the Energy Authority’s Board of Commissioners, Ziyad Al-Saaida, underlined the pivotal role of clean energy, noting its 22% contribution in 2022. Al-Saaida also announced advancements in transforming networks into intelligent systems, with a current progress rate of 26% and projections to hit 40% by year-end. In the context of international perspectives, Omar Abu Eid from the European Union Mission addressed sectoral integration as per royal mandates and the significance of the 2020-2030 strategy concerning renewable energy, green hydrogen, and electric mobility. Meanwhile, Moataz Kandil, regional head of FFI in the Middle East and North Africa, accentuated the potential of green hydrogen as a global clean and renewable energy source, expected to supplant conventional fuels in the foreseeable future. Dr. Muhammad Qamh from the World Bank spotlighted the need for an energy and financial sustainability strategy, emphasizing cost-efficient operations, revenue conservation, and fostering inter-Arab electrical connectivity.

Source: Jordan News Agency

At the “A Year on Modernization” forum, held to commemorate the first anniversary of Jordan’s economic modernization vision and the public sector modernization roadmap, key figures from both public and private sectors converged to discuss the strides Jordan has made in digital transformation. Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Ahmed Hanandeh, emphasized the significance of citizen interaction in refining public sector services. Hanandeh shared Jordan’s robust progress in digital evolution, mentioning the initiation of the first government services center at Moqbelin, which now incorporates 20 government bodies offering 95 services. Furthermore, he highlighted the recent launch of the second branch at Queen Alia International Airport, which delivers 44 services across 15 governmental entities. Plans are underway for additional branches in cities like Irbid, Aqaba, and Ma’an. Drawing attention to a more interactive governance model, Hanandeh shared details about the revamped “Bekhedmtkom” system, which acts as a channel for citizens to voice their views on government services across 131 institutions. Digital transformation milestones covered by Hanandeh also include the development of internal systems for several governmental departments, the linkage of various sites to the optical fiber network, and the launch of updated government websites. In line with the forum’s theme, George Qara, Technical Director at the US Agency for International Development’s Office of Democracy and Good Governance, expressed that the doubling of services from around 400 to 960 within a year signifies unprecedented progress. He asserted the indispensability of digitization for a formidable public sector. CEO of Jopac, Maha Bahou, emphasized the symbiotic relationship between public and private sectors in the nation’s digitization journey. Reiterating this sentiment, Nasser Saleh, Chairman and Founder of Madfooatcom for electronic payment, underscored the private sector’s faith in the capabilities of public enterprises. The event serves as a testament to Jordan’s dedication to modernizing its public services, harnessing digital solutions, and fostering collaborative environments to further its national objectives.

Source: Jordan News Agency