Author: Web Desk

Amman: Jordan’s expenditure on oil witnessed a consistent decrease from the start of 2023 until the conclusion of last November, amounting to JD2.723 billion compared to JD3.302 billion during the corresponding period in 2022.

As per the monthly foreign trade report released by the Department of Statistics on Thursday, there was a notable 17.5 percent decline in Jordan’s imports of crude oil, derivatives, and mineral oils by the end of November 2023.

The reduction in the oil expenditure until the end of last November 2023 totaled approximately JD579 million compared to the same timeframe in 2022.

Among Jordan’s petroleum derivative imports, mineral fuels held the largest portion at about JD893 million, followed by crude oil at JD661 million, and petroleum spirits (gasoline) at around JD584 million.

Diesel imports stood at approximately JD546 million, lubricating oils at about JD35 million, and kerosene at a value of JD3 million.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Jordan’s expenditure on oil witnessed a consistent decrease from the start of 2023 until the conclusion of last November, amounting to JD2.723 billion compared to JD3.302 billion during the corresponding period in 2022.

As per the monthly foreign trade report released by the Department of Statistics on Thursday, there was a notable 17.5 percent decline in Jordan’s imports of crude oil, derivatives, and mineral oils by the end of November 2023.

The reduction in the oil expenditure until the end of last November 2023 totaled approximately JD579 million compared to the same timeframe in 2022.

Among Jordan’s petroleum derivative imports, mineral fuels held the largest portion at about JD893 million, followed by crude oil at JD661 million, and petroleum spirits (gasoline) at around JD584 million.

Diesel imports stood at approximately JD546 million, lubricating oils at about JD35 million, and kerosene at a value of JD3 million.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Gaza: During the press conference on the 111th day of the brutal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qidra, the spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, stated that the occupation had carried out 21 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, killing 200 Palestinians in the last 24 hours.

The occupation prohibits ambulances and civil defense teams from reaching many of the victims who are still under the debris and on the roads, he continued, adding out that since October 7th, the number of Israeli aggression victims has increased to 25,900 martyrs and 64,110 injured.

He clarified that genocide crimes are being committed by the Israeli occupation in UNRWA shelters and Al-Mawasi, which are purportedly safe. He also mentioned that the occupation completely paralyzes Khan Yunis hospitals while simultaneously committing genocide crimes in the governorate and stops ambulances from operating.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Lower House Agriculture and Water and Rural and Badia Committees met on Thursday with Director General of Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), Naser al-Din Obeid, and his accompanying delegation, to discuss the center’s efforts to help its member countries in the agricultural sector.

The Agriculture Committee’s Chairman, MP Mohammad Alaqmeh, said Jordan suffers from “remarkable” challenges, especially in the water field, as it is considered one of the world’s poorest countries, pointing to ACSAD’s endeavors implemented to assist its member countries to carry out certain policies in the agricultural sector.

Alaqmeh called for confronting challenges that impede progress and prosperity of the Arab region, adding that partnership is a “decisive” step in achieving food security, especially in areas witnessing conflicts and crises.

Meanwhile, the Badia Committee’s Head, MP Abeer Jbour, said the center’s role is “important” for developing agricultural research, referring to the
key challenges facing Jordan’s Badia regions, primarily water scarcity and climate change.

For his part, Obeid said Jordan played a “major” role in establishing the center in 1968, adding that 89% of Arab lands are considered dry as a result of climate change and high temperatures.

Obeid pointed out that the center developed a strategy to achieve water security in the Arab countries, while presenting its key vision, primarily providing scientific and applied data and techniques to achieve economic and social development goals for the Arab arid and semi-arid regions, and proposing policies to confront water deficit.

Obeid added that the center also aims to benefit from scientific developments in integrating appropriate sustainable agricultural management policies to confront the worsening phenomenon of land degradation and benefit from scientific and technical developments in optimally using agricultural resources.

Additionally, Obeid noted the center works to improve land productive capacity, rehabilitate
deteriorated areas, develop rain-fed agriculture, achieve production stability, improve livestock productivity.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: A meeting was held on Thursday at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates for representatives of the ministries and national institutions, which contributed to prepare the Kingdom’s 4th human rights report for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Discussions aimed to follow up on activities of the Human Rights Council’s session designed to discuss the Kingdom’s report, which will be presented by Jordan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Walid Obeidat, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The meeting also sought to provide Jordan’s official delegation participating in the review session with additional information necessary to enrich interventions and respond to the member states’ observations during the session, which will be held remotely.

The statement added that the ministry drafted the fourth periodic report, in its capacity as chair of the Permanent Committee on Human Rights after receiving all responses to recommendations that were accepted by the Kingdom dur
ing the last 3rd UPR in 2018.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: A delegation from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) visited the Audit Bureau (AB) on Thursday to discuss future collaboration opportunities.

The visit was part of the reform plan adopted by the Audit Bureau, aligned with the comprehensive reform initiated by His Majesty King Abdullah II, encompassing political, economic, and administrative reform visions, according to a statement by the AB.

At the meeting, Radhi Hamadeen, the President of the AB, said His Majesty’s directives have provided a roadmap and significant support for the AB. He emphasized that the ongoing modernization process, to be announced within the strategic plan for the next three years, will be in harmony with the three pillars of the reform visions of His Majesty.

Hamadeen explained that the AB faces no pressures, interventions, or directives in its technical audit work from any party, and its independence is safeguarded by law.

Within the realm of institutional reform priorities, Hamadeen stated that th
e AB looks forward to developing human resources practices along with the reporting process. He indicated that the upcoming report will witness a new mechanism for its preparation based on the principle of Materiality and the classification of violations into three levels according to their severity.

Additionally, it will involve automating the process of obtaining information from auditees, expediting their responses to violations, and automating the process to streamline efforts, save time, and ensure information accuracy.

He added that the Bureau is set to embark on an extensive training program for auditors, emphasizing best practices in public auditing. This comprehensive training will cover specialized domains such as forensic auditing, data analysis, digital crime, and the integration of artificial intelligence into the audit practice. Furthermore, the audit scope will expand to encompass sector-specific evaluations, with a keen emphasis on vital sectors like health, education, and transportation. Th
e ultimate goal is to put forth recommendations that raise the bar for the quality of services delivered to citizens and ensure support for public sector reform.

Addressing a guest’s inquiry regarding the examination of the general budget and subsequent reporting to the general assembly, Hamadeen affirmed the Bureau’s role in reviewing the government’s final accounts. A meticulous report, incorporating observations and recommendations, will accompany the annual report submitted to the general assembly.

The visiting delegation expressed admiration for the achievements of the AB, acknowledging its diverse tasks that align with international best practices in the field of Audit. They affirmed their intention to offer technical assistance and training to the AB, contributing to the development plan outlined by its management.

The meeting concluded with a constructive dialogue, with topics spanning interaction with the media, internal control measures, methodology for calculating savings, and other pertinent is
sues.

Source: Jordan News Agency