Oprah Winfrey visits site in Jordan where Jesus was baptised
One picture saw Oprah pouting at the camera as she stood next to a sleepy camel. She rocked khaki trousers, a green scarf and a warm coat…reports Asian Lite News
Popular talk show host and personality Oprah Winfrey and her friend Gayle King visited the site of Jesus’ baptism in Jordan.
The iconic talk show host, 69, shared a series of pictures from her lovely holiday with her 22 million followers on Sunday, reports mirror.co.uk.
In one image, Winfrey looked delighted posing in front of an archaeological site as she enjoyed a camel ride in Petra.
Another had her and King smiling as they took a picture by the Siq (narrow passage) that leads to Petra.
She captioned the post: “Visited Jordan this week and there was so much to see and experience!”
“We visited the site where John the Baptist baptised Jesus, Petra and all its fascinations, camels, and the spot where the big boulder comes rolling out of Indiana Jones. So much history there in the ‘Rose City’, voted one of the 7 new wonders of the world.”
“It takes 3 days to really see it all we only spent 3 hours. Put it on your must see list if you haven’t already!”
One picture saw Oprah pouting at the camera as she stood next to a sleepy camel. She rocked khaki trousers, a green scarf and a warm coat.
Oprah Winfrey visits site in Jordan where Jesus was baptised
At one point, the two kept warm in gorgeous brown coats (called a furwa) as they relaxed in the sunny desert.
Winfrey’s trip comes after she said she thinks Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should attend King Charles’ Coronation.
Jordan ministry had strongly denounced Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s use of a map of Israel featuring part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan…reports Asian Lite News
Jordan has accused Israeli finance minster of violating international norms and peace treaty between the nations after he delivered speech in Paris featuring map includes parts of Jordan.
Jordan’s foreign ministry strongly denounced far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s use of a map of Israel featuring part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the west bank, Jordan News reported.
أكد @AymanHsafadi في تصريحات صحافية اليوم: -إدانة ورفض تصريحات وتصرفات وزير المالية الإسرائيلي التحريضية التي تعكس فكرا إقصائياً عنصرياً متطرفاً -التصريحات لن تنال من #الأردن ومكانته -الحقوق التاريخية للشعب الفلسطيني لا تلغيها تصريحات متطرفة https://t.co/hUs4YoKkBZ
— وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين الأردنية (@ForeignMinistry) March 21, 2023
The far right Israeli leader was delivering a speech at an event in Paris yesterday.
According to the Jordan News report,the map of what he called Greater Israel hanging in front of him, which appeared to define Israel’s borders as being inside parts of Jordan and including the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich
Jordan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sinan Al-Majali.termed the move as “a reckless incitement that is in violation of international norms and the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty.”
The ministry also denounced the racist and hard-line statements made by the Israeli minister against the Palestinian people and their right to exist, Jordan News reported.
The projects are expected to create approximately 13,000 job opportunities and boost national GDP in the partnering countries by more than $1.6 billion….reports Asian Lite News
Companies from the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain signed industrial agreements with an investment value exceeding $ 2 billion at the third Higher Committee meeting of the Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development.
The meeting kicked off in Amman on Sunday in the presence of Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the UAE’s special envoy for climate change, Ahmed Samir Saleh, Egyptian Minister of Industry and Trade of Egypt, Yousef Al Shamali, Jordanian Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, and Abdulla Adel Fakhro, Bahraini Minister of Industry and Commerce.
The meeting included the signing of 12 agreements across 9 industrial projects. The projects are expected to create approximately 13,000 job opportunities and boost national GDP in the partnering countries by more than $1.6 billion.
Jordan’s Prime Minister Dr Bisher Al-Khasawneh attended the signing ceremony of the partnership agreements along with the industrial ministers from the four countries.
Dr Al-Khasawneh met with the ministers of the partner countries and stressed the importance of this partnership in strengthening bilateral relations and economic development, along with the importance of the industrial sector’s role within participating countries.
Dr Al Jaber said: “We are keen on collaborating and complementing regional efforts to achieve integrated sustainable economic development. The UAE is committed to enhancing collaboration with member states to ensure we all benefit from each other’s competitive advantages and capabilities.
“This partnership is beginning to yield tangible results. It represents an exceptional model for industrial partnerships among private sector companies. It is testament to our collective ability to plan, integrate, and progress towards achieving our objectives, all while we are still at the beginning of this fruitful partnership. We are confident that we will witness the development of many new projects in the future.”
He added: “We call on companies in our respective countries to enter these partnerships and put forward proposals for projects that benefit from the capabilities of our countries and from our competitive advantages, resources, and expertise. As governments, our responsibility is to support these projects, enhance partnerships and provide the economic environment that enables their success.”
12 major agreements
The Egyptian company Soda Chemical Industries announced an investment of $500 million to produce sodium carbonate, ‘soda ash’, which is the main raw material in many industries, such as the glass and detergent sector. The facility will have a production capacity of 500,000 tons annually.
A MoU was signed for a strategic partnership with the Emirates Flat Glass Company, owned by Dubai Investments, to purchase the final product.
UAE-based automotive manufacturer M Glory Holding announced the launch of a large manufacturing project with an investment of $550 million. The project will establish 3 electric vehicle factories with specialized production and assembly lines in the UAE, Jordan and Egypt.
Production capacity will reach 40,000 compact crossover SUVs during the first three years of operation. M Glory Holding signed memoranda of understanding with the Jordan Design and Development Bureau and Egypt’s Arab Organisation for Industrialization as manufacturing partners, and with Bahrain’s GARMCO to supply aluminum sheets. The agreement exemplifies how the partnership aligns with sustainability objectives and the UAE’s presidency of COP28.
Emirati investor-owned CFC Group announced it will invest $400 million to establish an industrial complex for fertilizers and chemicals in Egypt. It signed MoUs with Jordan-based Arab Potash and Egypt’s Misr Phosphate Company to supply raw materials. The industrial complex will have an annual production capacity of half-a-ton of fodder and potash fertilizers, and 1.1 tons of chemicals.
Emirates Global Aluminium announced a $200 million investment to establish a silicon metal plant in the UAE with a production capacity of 55,000 tons per year. The company signed a MoU with the Jordan’s Manaseer Group to supply the required crystalline silica.
The UAE’s Globalpharma entered a partnership with Egypt’s Nerhadou to develop advanced technology for the manufacturing of medicines and supplements. An agreement was also signed to transfer technology to two Jordanian companies – Savvy Pharma and Triumph. Both projects will commence in 2023 with a total investment value of $60 million. Production capacity will reach 5 million packages annually per product.
Jordanian company Itqan announced a technology transfer partnership and contract manufacturing agreement with Globalpharma and ADCAN Pharma to manufacture syringes, aerosols, and inhalers. It also entered a MoU with Egypt’s Marcyrl for the transfer of technology in manufacturing biosimilars in Jordan at a total investment value of $10 million, with the aim of launching products by Q4 2024.
Bahrain-based Alpha Biotic signed two MoUs for knowledge and technology transfer as well as contract manufacturing with Jordan’s Dar Al Dawa and Egypt’s EIPICO, to produce general products, oncology products, medical solutions, and other pharmaceutical products. At an investment value of $174 million over two phases, the project’s production capacity is expected to reach 350 million pills per year.
Meanwhile,Bahrain’s capital will host the fourth meeting of the Higher Committee for the Integrated Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development, where more joint projects will be discussed.
Under the partnership, the member states will collaborate to grow their respective industrial sectors by integrating resources and industries and leveraging competitive advantages…reports Asian Lite News
Ministers from the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain are set to meet on Sunday where they will oversee the signing of agreements between industrial companies for projects worth millions of dollars.
The third meeting of the Higher Committee of the Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development will take place in Jordan’s capital Amman, where representatives from the four countries will discuss the partnership’s latest developments as well as joint industrial projects. The meeting will also result in a report and recommendations from the Executive Committee.
Yousef Al Shamali, Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply and Minister of Labour, will chair the meeting with the participation of Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Ahmed Samir Saleh, Egypt’s Minister of Industry and Trade; and Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce.
Under the partnership, the member states will collaborate to grow their respective industrial sectors by integrating resources and industries and leveraging competitive advantages. The countries will also work together to reduce costs, enhance supply chains, create job opportunities, contribute to economic development, promote self-sufficiency, and boost industrial competitiveness.
Various agreements will be signed between industrial companies from the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain. New projects will follow with investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars. These investments will strengthen the partnership, empower the member nations’ respective industrial sectors, grow the sectors’ contribution to GDP, bolster supply chains, reduce costs, and create new job opportunities.
Executive Committee meetings
The meetings of the Supreme Committee will be preceded by the meetings of the Executive Committee, on Saturday 25th February, with the participation of chairmen and members of the committee from the four countries, in addition to representatives of industrial companies from the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain.
The Executive Committee will prepare a report for presentation to the Supreme Committee on the partnership’s latest achievements and proposals to empower the industrial sectors of each partner country.
Five strategic goals
The integrated industrial partnership for sustainable economic growth was launched in Abu Dhabi in May 2022 between the UAE, Egypt and Jordan, with Bahrain joining during the partnership’s second meeting in Cairo in July.
The two leaders also praised “the long-standing friendship and partnership” between Israel and Jordan..reports Asian Lite News
King Abdullah II of Jordan stressed the need to maintain calm and cease all acts of violence to pave the way for the Middle East peace process.
At a meeting in Amman with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, the king stressed the importance of respecting the historical and legal status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to maintain peace.
The king stressed Jordan’s steadfast position in supporting the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 border, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace.
In a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office, the two leaders discussed regional issues and “especially strategic, security and economic cooperation between Israel and Jordan, which contributes to regional stability”.
The two leaders also praised “the long-standing friendship and partnership” between Israel and Jordan, the office said.
Jordan was the second Arab nation to normalise relations with Israel, but tensions have increased between the two countries since the inauguration of the Israeli right-wing coalition government in December 2022.
Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Jan. 3, angering the Palestinians and drawing a slew of global condemnations.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for preserving the status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites and the two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel issue.
“I had the occasion to reaffirm that we must preserve the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem and that it is essential to preserve the two-state solution to avoid any initiative that might put at risk the two-state solution,” Guterres said after meeting with the Permanent Representatives of the Extended Troika of the Arab Group at the UN headquarters in New York.
Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem, known to the Jewish people as the Temple Mount, is sacred to both Muslims and Jews.
Guterres added that the UN “recognise the right of Israel to exist and to live in security”.
At the same time, “the construction of settlements, the evictions, destruction of homes are creating an enormous anger and frustration not only of the Palestinian people but further afield”.
They also talked about the developments in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon as well as the Palestinian cause…reports Asian Lite News
King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron ways to strengthen bilateral ties in various fields and the latest developments in the Middle East.
The Jordanian king thanked Macron for his support of the second Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership which was held in Jordan on Tuesday, according to a statement by Jordan’s royal court on Wednesday.
They also talked about the developments in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon as well as the Palestinian cause, Xinhua news agency reported.
Macron stressed the importance of cooperation with Jordan and expressed France’s willingness to support Jordanian people and Jordan’s projects.
Hailing the Baghdad conference a success, the French President said it would support Iraq’s sovereignty and development.
The two leaders also discussed global issues and challenges, such as joint efforts to ensure food security and mitigate the impact of climate change, as well as bilateral coordination to counter terrorism.
The two leaders reviewed existing areas of partnership and explored opportunities to develop ties further, especially in the areas of development and the economy….reports Asian Lite News
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, held talks yesterday to discuss the strong ties between the two nations and ways to further expand cooperation and collaboration.
President Sheikh Mohamed welcomed the King of Jordan at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi and conveyed his best wishes to Abdullah and the people of Jordan. The two leaders reviewed existing areas of partnership and explored opportunities to develop ties further, especially in the areas of development and the economy.
King Abdullah II left the UAE and was seen off by President Sheikh Mohamed.
UAE JORDAN
Earlier in November, the governments of UAE, Jordan, and Israel have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) to advance the clean energy and sustainable water desalination projects announced last year.
The agreement was signed by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment; Mohammad Al Najjar, Jordan’s Minister of Water and Irrigation, and Esawi Frej, Israel’s Minister of Regional Cooperation.
The MoU relates to Project Prosperity, which has two components: Prosperity Green and Prosperity Blue. Prosperity Green includes a 600-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant, complemented with electric storage, which will be built in Jordan and produce clean energy for export to Israel. Prosperity Blue is a sustainable water desalination program, located in Israel, to export to Jordan 200 million cubic metres of potable water per annum.
The three countries signed an initial Declaration of Intent to explore the feasibility of both projects at Expo 2020 Dubai in the UAE in November 2021.
As per the MoU, feasibility studies for each of the projects have been ongoing and the parties affirm that both Prosperity Green and Prosperity Blue have positive potential prospects. The UAE, Jordan, and Israel will continue engaging to develop the necessary implementation plans in time for COP28, which is to be held in the UAE next November.
Project Prosperity was proposed to help address some of the challenges posed by climate change on water and energy security in the Middle East, and to promote renewable energy, sustainable water supply, and stability in the region.
Earlier in Novermber, Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan met UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
The two on Tuesday discussed the recent escalation of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the West Bank…reports Asian Lite News
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and King Abdullah II of Jordan met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and discussed the tensions in the Middle East region.
The two on Tuesday discussed the recent escalation of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the West Bank, Xinhua news agency reported.
Lapid spoke with the Jordanian king about the need for calming the situation on the ground and “halting terrorism ahead of the upcoming Jewish holidays”, Lapid’s office said in a statement.
They also discussed advancing economic and civilian cooperation between the two countries, which signed a peace treaty in 1994.
It was the leaders’ second meeting since July, when they met at the Jordanian monarch’s palace in Amman.
Lapid flew to New York on Monday to address the UN General Assembly. He has scheduled meetings with several leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and British Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Jordan is trying to put Palestinian issue on top of Biden’s Mideast agenda
Jordanian King Abdullah II said the kingdom is exerting its utmost efforts to place the Palestinian issue on the top of U.S. President Joe Biden’s agenda for his visit to the region next month.
King Abdullah made the remarks during a meeting in Amman with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, where he said that there is nothing more important to Jordan than the Palestinian issue, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court.
The king noted Jordan would fully support the rights of the Palestinian people and their cause during the upcoming summit to be hosted by Saudi Arabia in July, which would be joined by leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and the United States.
King Abdullah said that the two-state solution is the sole solution to the Palestinian issue that entails the creation of an independent Palestinian state at the borders of 1967.
The two sides said the next step required now is to cease unilateral measures to open the way to resume negotiations in the future. In turn, Abbas thanked Jordan for supporting the rights of the Palestinian people, noting that wherever Jordan is present on the international stage, the Palestinian cause is represented.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan recently discussed bilateral relations and the means of enhancing cooperation and joint action in various fields with King Abdullah.
This came during a reception at Qasr Al Shati Palace, where His Highness Sheikh Mohamed welcomed King Abdullah, wishing him good health and wellbeing, and for Jordan and its people continued progress, development and prosperity under his leadership.
The two leaders reviewed prospects of cooperation between their countries and the various opportunities for developing collaboration in political, economic, investment and developmental fields. They also discussed ways on how to push forward the relationship during the next phase to serve the mutual interests of their countries.
Present at the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to UAE President; and Humaid Obaid Abushibs, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian side included Dr. Bisher Al Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan; Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan; Dr. Jaafar Hassan, Director of King Abdullah II’s Office; and Nassar Habashneh, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the UAE.
MBZ, King Jordan discuss brotherly relations, cooperation and joint action (WAM)
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed today with King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan the brotherly relations and the means of enhancing cooperation and joint action in various fields…reports Asian Lite News
This came during a reception at Qasr Al Shati Palace, where His Highness Sheikh Mohamed welcomed King Abdullah, wishing him good health and wellbeing, and for Jordan and its people continued progress, development and prosperity under his leadership.
The two leaders reviewed prospects of cooperation between their countries and the various opportunities for developing collaboration in political, economic, investment and developmental fields. They also discussed ways on how to push forward the relationship during the next phase to serve the mutual interests of their countries.
Present at the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to UAE President; and Humaid Obaid Abushibs, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian side included Dr. Bisher Al Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan; Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan; Dr. Jaafar Hassan, Director of King Abdullah II’s Office; and Nassar Habashneh, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the UAE.
King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan departed the UAE, and was seen off by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
