Day: 13 April 2024

Gaza Strip: The death toll from Israel’s relentless war on the Gaza Strip rose Saturday to 33,686 and the total number of injured to 76,309, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

It said Israeli forces carried out five massacres during the last 24 hours, where 52 dead and 95 injured arrived in hospitals.

Many victims remained under the rubble of buildings targeted by air strikes or artillery bombardment, and out of reach of civil defense ambulances and paramedics, it said.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI)’s export amounted to JD1.776 billion during the first quarter of this year, compared to JD1.813 billion for the same period last year 2023.

According to statistics obtained by “Petra,” exports of 5 sectors recorded an increase, while the rest decreased by a rate ranging between 1% for the engineering, electrical industries and information technology sector, and 48% for the mining industries sector.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and India accounted for more than half of ACI’s exports during the first quarter of the current year, recording a value of JD1.261 billion, the figures showed.

During the first quarter of this year, the ACI’s exports to the United States recorded an increase of 128%, reaching about JD638 million, compared to JD279 million for the same period last year, making it at the forefront of the Arab and foreign countries that import the ACI’s most exports.

Meanwhile, ACI’s exports to Saudi Arabia went up by 3% during the first quarter of this y
ear, reaching about JD209 million, compared to JD203 million for the same period last year.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The government seeks to transform Jordan into “a mining state” in 2033, by raising the mining sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product to JD2.1 billion, compared to JD0.7 billion currently.

Under the National Mining Strategy, which was recently approved by Council of Ministers, the sector’s workers will increase to 27.500, while value of its exports will jump to JD3.5 billion from JD1 billion.

This shift comes in implementation of Economic Modernization Vision (EMV) in the mining axis, and assurances of His Majesty King Abdullah II on the necessity of accelerating procedures required to stimulate investment in mineral exploration.

In this regard, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources worked to implement a number of measures, primarily was the strategy’s preparation outlined by WOOD MAKENZIK.

Additionally, the ministry completed the EMV’s mining sector initiatives and projects during the year 2023, and approved its priorities in the vision’s executive program.

According to the ministr
y, 11 memorandums of understanding (MoU) were signed within the initiative to increase investment opportunities in Jordan’s extractive industries and 3 memorandums of cooperation with several companies.

In statements to “Petra,” the ministry said it will complete work on the initiatives during the year 2024 and push MoUs to the stage of value-added mining operations in extractive industries.

The strategy aligns with EMV and classification of the mining sector among high-value industries, based on the outcomes of multiple workshops held with stakeholders in the Kingdom’s public and private sectors to discuss mechanisms for enhancing role of the mining sector and addressing obstacles.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Karak: During its intensive monitoring tours on markets during days of Eid al-Fitr, Karak Directorate of Industry and Trade recorded 15 violations of non-compliance with the announced prices and dealt with 12 complaints.

In remarks to “Petra” on Saturday, the directorate head, Mohammad El-Saoub, said focus was on sectors that are “important” to consumers, primarily bakeries, dessert stores, restaurants, gas stations, garment shops, household appliances, and butcheries during Eid al-Fitr holiday.

El-Saoub also stressed that the directorate will take legal measures against violators, in accordance with provisions of the Industry and Trade Law.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Ministry of Education announced official working hours in the Kingdom’s schools and its affiliated directorates after end of Eid al-Fitr holiday.

According to an official circular sent by the ministry to the education directorates, assembly for single-shift schools will start Sunday morning, corresponding to April 14, at 7:45am, while the first class begins at 8:00am and the class duration will be 45 minutes.

As for double-shift schools, the first class will begin at 7:00 am and the class duration is 40 minutes, while the working hours of the education directorates will be from 8:a.m until 3:pm.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Jordan Hashemite Charitable Organization (JHCO) distributed 1,717 tonnes of flour to displaced and affected families in the Gaza Strip during month of Ramadan.

In a statement Saturday, JHCO’s Secretary-General, Dr. Hussein Shibli, said each Gazan family received a share of 25 kilograms of flour, as part of the JHCO’s ongoing charitable effort to support the affected population in Gaza Strip.

Shibli noted JHCO will continue sending aid based on updated need lists in its effort to provide the best services to people affected by crises and ensure that support reaches eligible beneficiaries.

After a four-month disruption, the JHCO “successfully” delivered this vital substance into northern Gaza, due to the blockade that hindered food supply operations.

This step played a “vital” role in alleviating burden on Gazan families suffering from food scarcity and successive crises, the statement said.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Ramallah: Jewish settlers, backed by the Israeli army, went into the rampage on Saturday, blocking entrances to at least half a dozen villages near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, and attacking Palestinian vehicles.

Eyewitnesses told Petra’s reporter in Ramallah that dozens of settlers sealed off entrances to Silwad, Turmusaya, Sinjil and Deir Dibwan, pelted vehicles with stones and smashing their windshield, but no injuries were reported.

The villages of Mughayer and Abu Falah were the scene of violent attacks yesterday by settlers and soldiers, where a young Palestinian, Jihad Abu Alia, was killed and dozens of others were injured, and heavy property damage was reported.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Doha: Since it ratified the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, a major reference for States Parties in developing public policies and enacting legislation and laws to take the necessary measures thereto, the State of Qatar has been paying special attention to cultural heritage.

The Ministry of Culture is holding a special celebration of the 20th anniversary of Convention. On this occasion, an exhibition highlighting Qatari cultural heritage will be held at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris on Monday. The exhibition highlights “The Majlis: A Social and Cultural Space,” traditional crafts and industries, and examples of the “falconry”, which was registered on the UNESCO representative list in 2015, in addition to popular arts and popular culinary arts. The exhibition will also display photos showing the Qatar’s achievements in preserving heritage.

The State of Qatar give attention to the national c
ultural heritage, in addition to its role at the international level.

At the national level, Qatar has launched many initiatives to achieve cooperation and harmony between the efforts of various state institutions concerned with preserving intangible cultural heritage. It also sought to register a number of cultural elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with the UNESCO, the most important of which are the falconry, Arabic coffee, the Majlis, the palm tree, and other files.

As part of its commitment to preserving, documenting, raising awareness of, and sharing cultural heritage, Qatar also seeks, individually and jointly to include a number of other cultural elements on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

Being the owner of the initiative to register the “Bisht’ on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage at UNESCO, The State of Qatar leads Arab efforts to follow up on registration procedures, in cooperation with Arab League of Educatio
nal, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

Qatar has previously worked on registering a number of joint Arab files, such as the “palm tree” and “Arabic calligraphy” , in addition to the “metal engraving art”, which will soon be registered on the Representative List of World Heritage under an Iraqi initiative, with 14 Arab countries participating in it.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Beijing: Seventeen people died and others injured or reported missing in two separate incidents in China, Chinese Xinhua news agency reported today.

Twelve people died and six were reported missing after a boat capsized in Qinhuangdao City, north China’s Hebei Province, on Saturday according to local authorities.

The accident caused 31 people to fall into the water. So far, 25 people have been rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment, while 12 of them have been confirmed dead. Rescue efforts are underway.

In another incident, seven people died in a gas poisoning on Saturday in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, according to the local emergency management bureau.

The accident occurred at a farm in Lichun Township, Pengzhou, a county-level city administered by Chengdu. An investigation into the cause of the incident are underway.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Jeddah, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide, in a phone call on Saturday, discussed relations between the two countries and ways to develop them.

During the call, the two ministers also addressed developments in the Gaza Strip and efforts aimed at containing the crisis in Gaza.

Source: Qatar News Agency

New York, The United Nations (UN) today announced that its Secretary-General appointed Muhannad Hadi of Jordan as UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, succeeding James Eugene McGoldrick of Ireland.

Hadi served as the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis since 2020, bringing to his new post more than 30 years of extensive international experience in humanitarian affairs and development work.

McGoldrick had occupied the post temporarily since December, succeeding Lynn Hastings, who left her position mid-December, due to Israeli authorities not renewing her visa.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Gaza, The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Saturday that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has risen to 33,686 martyrs in addition to 76,309 wounded, most of whom were women and children.

In its statement today, the ministry said that the Israeli occupation forces committed five massacres against families in the Gaza Strip over the past 24-hours, resulting in 52 martyrs and 95 wounded, with many victims remaining under the rubble due to the inability of ambulance vehicles and the civil defense from arriving to their locations.

The unprecedented Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip continues via land, air, and sea, destroying infrastructure and resulting in an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy, as hundreds of thousands of the Strip’s residents live in extremely difficult conditions in light of the lack of water and electricity as the occupation authorities prevent humanitarian aid from reaching them.

Source: Qatar News Agency