Day: April 15, 2024

Amman: The 2024 Spring Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) kicked off on Monday in Washington, D.C., and will continue until Saturday, April 20, under the theme “2024 Spring Meetings: Vision to Impact”.

Jordan is participating with an official delegation represented by Central Bank Governor Adel Sharkas, Minister of Finance, Mohammad Al-Assiss, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, Abdulhakim Al-Shibli.

The 2024 Spring Meetings aim to directly address global challenges, including solutions to increase finance and knowledge, encourage private sector investments, and prepare for future crises.

The meetings will discuss issues of global concern, including global economic prospects, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness.

The meetings, which will be hosted in Washington, DC, will feature seminars, regional briefings, press conferences, a
nd other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the global financial system.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Jordan extended on Sunday heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Oman over the deaths caused by torrential rains in the Al Mudhaibi region yesterday, resulting in fatalities, injuries, and missing individuals.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Sufian Qudah, conveyed Jordan’s solidarity with Oman during this tragic incident, offering sincere condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured while hoping for the safety of the missing individuals.

Qudah confirmed that no Jordanian citizens were among the victims or those reported missing.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Jordan has shown resilience amid successive external shocks, while maintaining macroeconomic stability with vulnerabilities associated with climate change and regional conflicts, according to the World Bank ()’s latest report.

In a report on the global economic outlook, the WB stressed the importance of addressing the structure of labor market challenges, stimulating the business environment and continuous focus on implementing reform to achieve a sustainable economy, and raising the growth rate by increasing productivity, pursuing investment, and export-led growth.

The report pointed out that despite the challenges and the regional and global sequence of external shocks, growth over the past decade averaged about 2.2 percent annually, which came with the support of public finance, prudent monetary policy, and macroeconomic stability, while the Kingdom also made progress in domestic revenue mobilization.

The report highlighted that the recent conflict in the Middle East, which initially erupted on O
ctober 7, has affected the tourism, trade and investment sector across the region, noting that there is a longer and wider risk that the conflict may exacerbate existing challenges such as trade disruptions and high freight costs.

Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, and its vulnerability to extreme weather, including high temperatures and low rainfall rates, exacerbates the risk of water scarcity and food security.

The WB said in its report that the Kingdom’s growth rate may decline to 2.5 percent in 2024 due to the consequences of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, but it will rise again to 2.6 percent in 2025 and 2026, which confirms the ability of the national economy to absorb shocks, exceptional circumstances, and external economic fluctuations.

On recent developments in macroeconomic indicators, the report showed that the remarkable performance in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors, along with the continued strong contribution of the services sector, led to a
slight increase in growth to 2.7 percent (year-on-year) in the third quarter of 2023, and showed that manufacturing and agriculture recorded their highest average growth rates since the first nine months of 2011 and the first nine months of 2010, respectively, and the restaurants and hotels sector witnessed its highest average growth rate since 9 months in 2012, despite the initial setback in tourist arrivals due to the outbreak of the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

With regard to labor markets, the report showed that they improved slightly, and labor force participation improved to 34.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, mainly driven by higher female participation, which recorded the highest level since the first quarter of 2019 at 15.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, and unemployment decreased to 21.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, but it remained the same above the pre-Covid average.

In its report, the WB predicted that the relative stability of imported commodity prices and weak core in
flation will keep inflation under control, despite some temporary effects from higher freight costs due to the Red Sea disruptions.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Beirut: Nine people were injured on Monday in an Israeli air raid on the southern Lebanese town of Siddiqin, according to a Lebanese security source.

The source told Petra’s reporter in Beirut that a house was completely destroyed and dozens others were damaged in the latest air strikes.

Israeli jets also launched a series of strikes on the town of Al-Dhahira, Labouneh, south of the border town of Naqoura, and Alma Road, it said

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: His Majesty King Abdullah II held talks on Monday with Iraq President Abdul Latif Rashid, at Basman Palace.

During bilateral talks followed by expanded ones, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, the two leaders discussed current developments, with His Majesty warning that the current situation in the region could lead to further escalation that threatens its security and stability.

The two leaders stressed the need to step up efforts to reach an immediate cessation of the aggression on Gaza, and to work on reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue that guarantees the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights and ends the cycle of violence in the region.

The King reiterated the need to protect civilians in Gaza, as well as increase the flow of humanitarian aid and deliver it by all means available.

The two leaders expressed their rejection of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as violations of holy sites in Jerusa
lem.

His Majesty reiterated the importance of Iraq’s key role in the region, noting Jordan’s support of its security and stability and adding that the security of Jordan and Iraq is one.

The talks also addressed the distinguished relations between the two countries and peoples, as well as ways to expand cooperation in all fields, especially in energy, industry, and trade, in a way that bolsters economic partnership in various development sectors.

The King noted the importance of stepping up efforts to implement agreements and joint projects between Jordan and Iraq, commending the launch of the first phase of the electricity connectivity project between the two countries.

For his part, President Rashid stressed the deep-rooted relations between the two countries, and the importance of advancing cooperation and joint coordination in political, security, trade, economic, energy, environment and tourism fields.

The Iraqi president also affirmed that the security and stability of Iraq is essential to the stab
ility of the region, commending Jordan’s support for his country in facing challenges, especially its war against terrorism.

He highlighted the importance of continuing to hold meetings between Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt periodically and moving forward with implementing the outcomes of previous trilateral summits.

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Yousef Shamali, and the accompanying Iraqi delegation attended the meeting.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Ramallah: Israeli occupation forces carried out a series of arrests in the West Bank on Monday, detaining 25 Palestinians, including a young girl and former prisoners.

The arrests were primarily focused in Tulkarm, with additional operations reported in Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jenin, Nablus, Tubas, and Jerusalem.

Reports from the Palestinian Prisoners Society and the Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Authority revealed that the arrests were accompanied by allegations of abuse, beatings, and threats against the detainees and their families. Additionally, there were claims of damage to Palestinian homes during the operations.

The joint statement said the number of arrests since October 7 has now reached approximately 8,240. It also highlighted the ongoing violation of detainees’ rights, particularly the issue of enforced disappearance among those held in Gaza. Israeli authorities have refused to provide any information regarding their fate or whereabouts to relevant human rights organizations.

Source: Jor
dan News Agency

An Israeli airstrike on a house in the southern town of Seddaqine shortly after midnight left nine injured and caused massive damages to nearby residences, our correspondent reported.

The targeted house was fully destroyed, and the wounded were transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Meanwhile, Israeli enemy warplanes conducted mock raids above the villages and coastline of Tyre district. They also threw flares above the border towns adjacent to the Blue Line.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon