Day: March 19, 2024

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, alongside the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, secured the prestigious Aqaba Bird Observatory, topping 100 global tourist spots at the Berlin Exhibition in Germany, after ranking second worldwide for sustainability in the environment and climate category.

According to a statement on Tuesday, Nayef Fayez, Chairman of the Authority’s Council of Commissioners, hailed this achievement as fundamental, underlining Aqaba’s commitment to sustainable tourism, particularly through the Aqaba Bird Observatory, shaping the city’s tourism plans.

Fayez commended the fruitful collaboration between the Authority and the Royal Society, highlighting Aqaba’s unique approach to environmental tourism, exemplified by the Aqaba Bird Observatory.

He emphasized the significance of green destination standards in gauging sustainability efforts worldwide, noting their role in guiding tourism sites towards adherence to sustainable practices aligned with global standards.

Fadi Nas
ser, Director General of the Royal Society, acknowledged the joint efforts in managing and enhancing the Aqaba Bird Observatory, attributing its global success to the fruitful partnership between the two entities.

Firas Rahahla, Director of the Aqaba Bird Observatory, described it as a unique site tackling climate challenges through an adaptive environmental approach, particularly addressing water scarcity by reusing water to preserve natural environments.

Rahahla highlighted Jordan’s pivotal role in bird migration and the observatory’s significance as a crucial stopover for migratory birds between Asia and Africa, boasting a remarkable diversity representing 61 percent of Jordan’s bird species.

In 2023, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, the Aqaba Water Company, the Aqaba Development Company, and the United States Agency for International Development signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 aimed
at developing the Aqaba Bird Observatory by rehabilitating its artificial environments to ensure the highest levels of sustainability of its environmental and tourism values.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation revealed an increase in the long-term annual average of rainfall as of Tuesday morning, reaching 70.5% of the typical yearly volume, approximately 8.1 billion cubic meters.

Highlighting the comparative data, the Ministry noted that this figure stands in contrast to the same date last year, which saw a slightly higher percentage of 85.5% against the long-term average.

In a press release, the Ministry elaborated that recent rainfall has contributed substantially to the country’s water reserves, with an influx of approximately 5 million cubic meters recorded in the dams over the past 24 hours.

Consequently, the cumulative storage in the primary dams has surged to 138.5 million cubic meters, equivalent to 48% of their total capacity, pegged at 288.128 million cubic meters.

The Ministry reported that Karak recorded the highest precipitation over the last 24 hours, registering 46 mm, while rainfall was widespread across various regions of the Kingdom in varying intensities.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip said that the Israeli occupation committed 9 massacres in the Strip during the past 24 hours, leaving 93 dead and 142 injured.

According to Palestinian sources, the death toll has risen since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7, 2023, to 31,819 dead and 73,934 injured.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The tally of arrests conducted by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the aggression on the Gaza Strip started on October 7 has surged to 7,670 individuals.

In a joint statement released by the Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners’ Authority along with the Palestinian Prisoners Society on Tuesday, it was disclosed that 15 Palestinians from the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, including journalist Rula Hassanein and former detainees, were apprehended.

The sweep of arrest operations spanned across various regions including Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Hebron, and Jerusalem. Reports accompanying the arrest campaign outlined instances of widespread raids, physical abuse, severe beatings, and threats leveled against detainees and their families. Additionally, there were reports of rampant sabotage and demolition of Palestinian residences.

These systematic arrest campaigns stand as stark manifestations of the enduring policies enacted by occupation forces. They serve a
s pivotal components of the strategy of collective punishment, emblematic of the broader tactics employed by the occupation in targeting Palestinians, said the statement. These actions unfold against the backdrop of sustained aggression against the Palestinian populace and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza since October 7, it added.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Imad Mujahid, an astronomy expert and member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), along with being a fellow of the British Royal Astronomical Society, revealed that astronomical calculations pinpoint the spring equinox for the current year occurring tomorrow, Wednesday, at 6:06 a.m. Kingdom time.

He explained that during this event, the sun will be directly perpendicular to the equator, effectively dividing the Earth into its northern and southern hemispheres. This marks the astronomical commencement of the spring season, with both day and night being of equal length across the globe, effectively concluding the approximately 89-day winter season.

Mujahid elaborated that during the vernal equinox, the sun rises precisely from the eastern horizon at 6:35 a.m., maintaining an angle of 89 degrees, 37 minutes, and 11 seconds. Conversely, it sets precisely at the western horizon at 6:54 p.m., at an angle of 270 degrees and 37 minutes, lasting for 12 hours and 9 minutes. Subsequently, the ni
ght spans 11 hours and 51 minutes, resulting in nearly equal durations of day and night worldwide.

Furthermore, following the vernal equinox, the sun’s apparent trajectory shifts northward, leading to rising temperatures and longer days, culminating in the summer solstice on June 21, when the sun reaches its maximum altitude north of the equator at 23.5 degrees, marking the longest day of the year and the shortest night.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation/Jordan Valley Authority cautioned about potential flooding at Mujib Dam in the hours ahead.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the ministry urged citizens and farmers to be cautious and avoid approaching the valley’s path, stating that necessary measures would be coordinated with relevant authorities.

Source: Jordan News Agency