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AMMAN — The Ministry of Health and AstraZeneca on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to bolster the resilience of the public health facilities to climate change.

The memorandum, signed by Health Minister Firas Hawari, and AstraZeneca Regional Director Rami Iskandar, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide more sustainable and low-carbon health care in 2024 through development facilitation of the Kingdom's green hospital accreditation framework, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai.

The memo also aims at assessing carbon impacts, providing solar panels to promote the use of renewable energy and water purification systems.

Hawari stressed the ministry's commitment to reducing the negative impact of health services on climate, underlying the need to enhance the sector’s resilience to cope with climate change impacts while ensuring fairness in delivering healthcare services. 

Iskandar said that the harmful health impacts of climate change on people and the planet are increasing, highlighting that no company, government or organisation can effectively address them alone.

He also said that AstraZeneca is committed to building a more sustainable healthcare future in Jordan. 

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Touqan and European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti signed two agreements on Monday, including a 100 million euros additional loan and a 50 million euros investment grant to support the National Water Carrier Project (Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Transport Project). 

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of COP28 climate conference in Dubai, during which Touqan highlighted the project's key role in enhancing water security and boosting overall economic development according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

She also conveyed gratitude towards EIB's support for the national project, as the loan signing follows a previous loan of 200 million euros signed on December 8, 2022, bringing the bank's total commitment to 300 million euros.

Acknowledging the European Union's role in securing the investment grant, Touqan emphasised that both funding streams — the loan and the grant — will be channeled through the EIB. 

This financial package aligns with the wider European support announced during the recent visit of His Majesty King Abdullah to Brussels, including a loan of 100 million euros allocated for the National Carrier project and two investment grants of 97 million euros.

Touqan, in a COP28 side event, has met with the vice-president of the European Investment Bank in Dubai, with discussions centering on the Bank's priority areas of support in Jordan, which are intertwined with the Kingdom's Economic Modernisation Vision. 

Touqan took the opportunity to highlight the importance of the partnership with the EIB and expressed her gratitude for the financial support received in vital sectors such as education, water, sanitation, transport, energy, private sector development and infrastructure.

Vigliotti emphasised the bank's commitment to support Jordan in addressing its challenges by providing expertise and financing in priority areas.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Water and Irrigation/ Water Authority on Monday received a proposal from the coalitions competing for the National Water Carrier Project. 

The unveiling of this proposal, which was submitted by the Meridiam Suez, took place during an event attended by Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud, and the specially appointed Procurement Committee, as mandated by Cabinet Decision No. 6117 of 9/3/2022. 

The proposal is currently undergoing technical and financial evaluations, to assess its feasibility and potential implementation. Jad Haribi, representative from the coalition, expressed his satisfaction with the entire proposal submission process, underlining the global and regional significance of the project in the field of water desalination. 

The ministry said that the project aims to desalinate and transport 300 million cubic metres of water from the Gulf of Aqaba to every part of the Kingdom to secure sustainable additional water resources. 

The renewable resources-based project is in line with the national energy strategy, which aims to generate 31 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. 

AMMAN — The Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip is being raged in conjunction with an apartheid campaign in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, Secretary-General of the Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs Abdullah Kanaan said on Monday.

Kanaan told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that 464 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the beginning of 2023, including 257 since October 7, in addition to arresting over 3,500 Palestinians since the outbreak of the war on Gaza.

Besides the thousands of deaths and injuries, and the destructions of hundreds of thousands of homes with tonnes of bombs on Gaza, Kanaan said that the Israeli occupation forces is carrying out s fierce attacks and “killing campaigns” in the West Bank.

The secretary-general added that Israel is carrying out its crimes in front of the "eyes of a world that pretends democracy and human rights".

Kanaan stressed the importance of stopping the “double-standard approach” towards the crimes of the occupation, calling for an immediate protection for the Palestinian people that are deprived of their simplest rights of life.

He said that the government of the occupation must be aware that security and peace cannot be achieved with killing the Palestinian people and destroying their homes.

Kanaan stressed that the West Bank, including Jerusalem, as per international legitimacy resolutions, is an occupied land and that Israel's procedures of building settlements and destroying houses are “null and void”. 

AMMAN — The value of certificates of origin issued by the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) during the January-November period of 2023 increased by 58.6 per cent compared with the same period of 2022.

According to ACC figures cited by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the total value of the certificates reached JD1.289 billion in the said period of 2023, compared with JD813 million in the same period of the previous year.

The chamber issued a total of 33,393 certificates of origin during the the January-November period of 2023, marking a 1.4 per cent increase compared with the 32,937 certificates issued during the same period last year.

The certificates of origin were issued for exports to several countries, with Saudi Arabia topping the list with 8,265 certificates, followed by the UAE with 3,776 certificates, Iraq, Egypt and Switzerland with 2,022, 1,018, and 20 certificates respectively.

According to the ACC statistics, the value of re-exported goods in the first 11 months of 2023 totalled JD552 million, with industrial and agricultural exports amounting to JD179 million and JD164 million respectively.

Certificates for Jordanian industrial products are issued upon request, with authentication provided by verified factory invoices and certificates confirming the Jordanian origin of the goods.

AMMAN — Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) Musa Maaytah on Monday received the Head of the Senate's Women Committee Khawla Armouti and the Head of the Lower House's Women Committee Zainab Al Bdoul. 

According to a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the meeting is one of a series of meetings the IEC is holding focused on engaging with electoral process stakeholders under the theme, "Women Empowerment in Election and Political Parties". 

Maaytah said that IEC established a women empowerment unit aimed at supporting and promoting women's participation in the broader political arena and assisting women to attain positions of decision-making. 

IEC, in cooperation with stakeholders, has surveyed the polls and counting centres in the Kingdom's governorates and have taken measures to equip the polling centres to guarantee accessibility for persons with disabilities, Maaytah said.

Maaytah said that IEC has updated the voters’ lists according to the voters’ permanent addresses as registered at the civil status and passports department in accordance with the effective elections law.

He noted that the Jordan Electoral Institute is established with the aim of building capacities of both local and international partners through providing training. 

Maaytah also said that the institute will grant a masters degree in election management and allocate seats for women based on the criteria adopted by the IEC.   

PARIS — Wales winger George North will join French second division team Provence Rugby on a two-year contract from next year, the ProD2 club announced on Monday. North, who was part of the Welsh squad that made the quarter-finals of the World Cup, the fourth of his long career, has been capped 118 times by Wales and three times by the British and Irish Lions. Still only 31, having made his international debut at the tender age of 18, North has been part of Wales squads that have won the Six Nations four times, including two Grand Slams.North will join up with Wales prop Tomas Francis at the big-spending club based in Aix-en-Provence, and currently second in the ProD2 and eyeing a potential promotion to the Top 14 before the arrival of the winger-cum-centre. Provence President Denis Philipon said the signing of North would massively help the development of the club.

AMMAN — Jordan’s banking system is at the forefront in terms of added value, with 84 per cent of its operational processes generating tangible added value and direct contribution that fuels the national economy, said Director General of the Association of Banks in Jordan (ABJ) Maher Mahrouq on Monday.

Mahrouq’s remarks came during a press briefing that saw the launch of an ABJ study aimed at analysing the local banking system’ contribution to national economic activity and growth.

Confirming positive long-term effect of banking development on Jordan’s economy, the detailed study which is based on 2022 data, explores the banking sector’s contribution to GDP, and its role in the multiple economic sectors.

There are currently 20 banks operating in the Kingdom, 15 of which are local banks. They operate through 865 branches across the country, according to Mahrouq, who added that “there are approximately 2,200 automated teller machines [ATMs] across Jordan… this helps foster financial inclusion and expand the base of the banking apparatus which enables the delivery of banking services to the widest spread of geographical area”.

The 20 financial institutions include: Twelve Jordanian commercial banks, four foreign commercial banks, one foreign Islamic bank and three local Islamic banks, according to the study which also added that the financial inclusion ratio reached 50 per cent.

Mahrouq affirmed the private sector’s increased dependency on bank financing, noting that the Kingdom’s banking sector is among the most resilient globally. 

The capital adequacy ratio is 17.1 per cent and the net credit granted to the central government stands at JD12 billion, according to the study which found that 47 per cent of local banking sector’ shares are owned by Arab investors.

Regarding the banking sector’s contributions to the Jordanian economy, Mahrouq said that credit facilities granted by banks accelerated local economic growth, highlighting that increasing credit facility by 10 per cent boosted the GDP by up to 2.7 per cent. 

The 10 per cent increase in credit facilities has increased the added value by approximately 5.6 per cent in commercial, tourism, hotel and restaurant sectors.

With banks being more involved in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Mahrouq underscored that the lines of credit have supported the sustainability and growth of SMEs which he described as “key growth and employment engines” in the local economy.

Highlighting the local banking system’s financial evolution, the ABJ director general said that “when looking at the banking industry’s total assets [net of cash holdings], which are approximately JD65 billion, we see that they represent 194 per cent of the GDP”. 

This implies that the overall banking assets are twice the size of the local economy, he noted.

As for the sector’s return on asset ranking, the banking sector ranked sixth in comparison with other sectors in Jordan, the study showed.

The study presented the bank’s progress in increasing economic inclusiveness, safeguarding assets and bringing a value-added service for the local economy. 

The local banking system is a subsector of the financial services industry, which constitutes 97 per cent of the wider financial markets’ sector, Mahrouq said. 

Mahrouq explained that the decline in operational banks in Jordan is due to bank mergers which serve as a positive indicator for the banking sector, noting that “well-established, resilient and capable of supporting inclusive and sustainable development”.

The bank deposits to GDP and the credit-to-GDP ratio reached 129 per cent, and 99 per cent, respectively, according to the study.

“The magnitude of banking facilities is nearly the size of GDP... this shows us that credit facilities have increased economic growth,” he said.

The study also indicated that the Jordanian banking sector contributed approximately JD277 million in income taxes for the year 2022, representing 20 per cent of the total taxes collected, and thereby being “the largest taxpayer in Jordan”, he noted.

Hestressed the large volume of foreign investment in local banks which stands at approximately 56 per cent of the total banks listed in the Amman Financial Market.

The banking sector is a major employer in the Kingdom, 22,400 Jordanians are employed in the sector, where 35 per cent are women, and 74 per cent are under the age of 40, the study showed.

AMMAN — As the cold season begins, the Public Security Directorate (PSD) has issued a call for the safe use of heaters and encouraged people to exercise caution when using them.

The PSD indicated that scores of heater-related incidents occurred last winter, resulting in a dozen deaths and numerous injuries.

The incidents were primarily attributed to the improper use of heaters as this practice can lead to asphyxiation—the primary cause of death in heater accidents, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. AmerSartawitold The Jordan Times.

The PSD conducts annual awareness campaigns through multiple media outlets to educate the public on the safe operation of kerosene, gas and electric heaters, Sartawi said, adding thatdespite consistent warnings over the years, the directorate continues to receive reports of incidents caused by negligence and a failure to adhereto heater safety guidelines.

Sartawi said that the PSD identified several common causes of heater-related accidents, including inadequate ventilation, using heaters for drying clothes or cooking, and cylinder leaks, emphasising the potential for accidents, such as home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas produced by the burning processes in heaters, which diffuses across the lung tissues and into the bloodstream, making it difficult for the body’s cells to bind to oxygen. 

WHO warned that exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to difficulties in breathing, exhaustion, dizziness, and flu-like symptoms. High levels of exposure can be fatal, necessitating immediate action by calling emergency services.

In response to these incidents, Sartawioutlined preventive measures, emphasising the importance of regularly ventilatingindoor spaces, avoiding leaving heaters unattended while sleeping, and discouraging the use of heaters in bathrooms.

Sartawiadded that electric heaters should not be used for more than five consecutive hours, while kerosene heaters must not be refueled while lit and should be turned off outside the house.

Sartawi said that there arefive additional safety precautions for gas heaters, including inspecting cylinders and connecting pieces for leaks, ensuring the flame is consistently turnedon, and cautioning against entrusting children to replace gas cylinders.

The PSDunderlined the importance of keeping heaters away from confined spaces,such askitchens and bedrooms, identifying the stairwell as the safest location for placement.

AMMAN — Jordan’s sky will witness the peak of the Geminids meteor shower on the evening of Thursday, extending into Friday, according to the Jordanian Astronomical Society.

Ammar Al Sakaji, president of Jordanian Astronomical Society told The Jordan Times that the Geminids meteor shower, active from December 4 to 20, will culminate at 2:36am on Friday. He added that the prime times for observing the meteors are Thursday evening from 8:00pm until Friday morning.

“This celestial event will be visible in most areas of Jordan and the Arab world, particularly in regions with optimal observational conditions, such as low light pollution areas like deserts and rural regions, clear skies, low humidity, and minimal dust,” Sakaji added. 

According to the International Meteor Organisation’s 2023 calendar, the maximum meteor rate is anticipated to reach approximately 150 meteors per hour under standard and ideal conditions. However, accounting for local astronomical conditions and Jordan’s geographical location, this rate is expected to decrease to around 139 meteors per hour at the peak radiation center in the Jordanian sky at 2:36am on Friday, under standard astronomical conditions. The radiation centre is expected to manifest in the eastern direction within the Gemini constellation, said Sakaji. 

He added that this year, the likelihood of viewing the meteors is heightened due to the crescent moon with an illumination of 4.3 per cent, setting at 6:52pm on Thursday, just prior to the ascent of the radiation centre.

Sakaji advises skywatchers to scan the entire sky in all directions, not solely focusing on the radiation centre. “NASA has highlighted that the Geminids meteor shower is projected to be the most intense and luminousof 2023,” said Sakaji.

He explained that the Geminids meteor shower is an extraordinary astronomical phenomenon resulting from a fusion of a rocky comet and the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, belonging to the Apollo group of asteroids. 

This distinguishes it from other meteor showers originating solely from comets, when debris and dust from the asteroid’s orbit intersect with Earth’s orbit and enter the atmosphere; they react with its components, burning at altitudes ranging from 80 to 100 kilometres. This interaction results in meteor showers, with heightened intensity when associated with a specific comet or asteroid. These meteoroids, often smaller than chickpeas, create colourful and luminous streaks and fireballs, posing no danger as they burn in the upper atmosphere and transform into ash.

“The Geminids meteor showeris named after its radiant point in the Gemini constellation, one of the zodiac constellations within the apparent path of the Sun, known as the ecliptic,” Sakaji added.

Sakaji clarified the distinction between the Gemini constellation and “Gemini Zodiac” — the correct scientific name for the Gemini constellation within the zodiac. “The constellation is situated between the Taurus and Cancer constellations, following the guidelines of the International Astronomical Union,” said Sakaji.