Day: June 30, 2024

In an unusual move at the end of his speech at the 8th National Youth Conference, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi concluded the first session by repeating the phrase ‘Egypt’s Army’ three times. This was a clear message to Egypt’s adversaries and whoever that might attempt to undermine the strength of the nation of its military.

It is essential to highlight that Egypt’s military strength is based on solid principles, foremost of which is the military doctrine: victory or martyrdom. This is in addition to possessing advanced technological systems in the fields of armament, training, and logistical and technical support, which ensures the highest levels of readiness and preparedness.

The General Command of the Armed Forces adopts a precise strategy to build a military force capable of deterrence and defending the country’s national security. They are swiftly advancing to build and organise their armament systems and combat capabilities on all strategic fronts.

The development included organising new formations
within the armed forces, such as the airborne rapid intervention forces, in addition to establishing of the southern fleet to secure the maritime operations theater in the Red Sea.

Additionally, some military deployments have been reorganised into integrated military bases providing all administrative and moral services for the combatants, through training, readiness, and combat capabilities aligned with the principles of modern joint weapon operations.

Two naval fleets

The Egyptian Navy has been reinforced to consolidate its capability for securing the nation’s maritime domain with the use of the latest naval weapons used by advanced armies, including the French FREMM multipurpose frigate (Tahya Misr), the French Mistral helicopter carriers, and the German Type 209/1400 submarines. This has enabled the formation of two strong naval fleets in both the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

Advanced Aircraft

The Egyptian Air Force has been equipped with advanced aircraft from multiple sources according to Egypt’s str
ategy of diversifying the country’s weapon sources. The deals included various types of weaponry, munitions, and technical needs for the aircraft, including a number of French Rafale multi-role fighters, Russian MiG-29 fighters, CASA C-295 aircraft, several American F-16 fighters, and a number of unmanned aerial systems.

Air Defence

Egypt’s armament plans included acquiring a large number of radars of various models to ensure radar coverage of Egyptian airspace at different altitudes. Additionally, a number of missile battalions and large numbers of shoulder-fired missile units were procured to enhance the engagement capability against aerial targets at different altitudes.

It was necessary to develop military deployments in Egypt through establishing integrated military bases in various strategic directions. These bases host combat groups that include airbases and strong, capable seaports to handle various threats.

Combating Terrorism

Over the period 2011-2017, Egypt was among the top ten countries most
affected by terrorism, according to the Global Terrorism Index. However, the ranking dropped to 20th place by 2024, according to the Global Terrorism Index report, of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). Egypt was ranked 142nd on the Global Peace Index in 2016, but it climbed to 105th place by 2024.

EDEX

Egypt organised the Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX) in 2018, 2021, and 2023 to exchange expertise, showcase the latest in weapon systems, and promote Egyptian military industries as well as those of participating companies and countries.

Development Projects

The Egyptian Armed Forces perform their duty of protecting the Egyptian people and securing borders and economic resources, and they have also played an active role in rebuilding the Egyptian state by implementing major national projects.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Amman: Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Hneifat, on Sunday stressed the ministry’s keenness to preserve “quality” of the local sheep product and advance the livestock sector.

During his meeting with Director of Livestock Segregation Centers at the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Dr. Saleh Al-Saad, Hneifat said the Jordanian ministry has begun work on establishing 3 veterinary hospitals in the Kingdom’s regions, modernizing animal and plant laboratories and providing them with the “latest” equipment.

Hneifat also referred to efforts to provide vaccines that protect the Kingdom’s sheep wealth, pointing to the ministry’s procedures for organizing and developing Jordan’s livestock sector.

Additionally, Hneifat valued cooperation of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Water and its workers with Jordan’s livestock sector and sustainability of joint collaboration and coordination to serve common interests.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Ramallah: Israeli forces Sunday killed a Palestinian and injured five after a drone bombed a house in Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said two of the injured in the Israeli drone attack are in “critical” condition in hospital.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said several others were wounded from the strike.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Director General of Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), Dr. Nizar Mhaidat, said the administration continues efforts to reach an “advanced” level in regulating drugs and finally certify it as an internationally accredited regulatory body, under the World Health Organization (WHO)’s program for regulatory systems strengthening (RSS).

During a meeting with a WHO mission of experts on a follow-up visit within the RSS program’s framework, Mhaidat noted the trip’s importance to follow up on the progress made in implementing the recommendations made during previous visits to the JFDA and build on related development and improvement, in accordance with a specific timetable.

Mhaidat added that this process aligns with the JFDA’s strategy to apply the “highest” international standards to ensure drug quality, safety and efficacy and its keenness to support the Kingdom’s pharmaceutical industry sector and enhance its competitiveness, in line with outcomes of the Economic Modernization Vision that was la
unched under Royal directives.

Meanwhile, WHO Representative to Jordan, Jamela Al-Raiby, praised the JFDA’s efforts in achieving “continuous” development and implementation of the organization’s recommendations.

In this regard, Al-Raiby referred to joint action to develop performance of the Kingdom’s entire drug regulation system, which would reflect “positively” on the JFDA’s monitoring and regulatory role that would qualify it to reach the Maturity Level 3 or 4 for regulating locally produced and imported drugs.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Zarqa: Chairman of Zarqa Chamber of Commerce (ZCC), Hussein Shuraim, on Sunday discussed with Tunisian Ambassador to Jordan, Mufida Al Zaribi, and the Tunisian Commercial Attaché, Hisham Al-Naji, ways to enhance economic cooperation and increase volume of Jordan- Tunisia trade exchange.

During the meeting, Shuraim said referred to volume of Jordan-Tunisia trade exchange during the past year, as the value of national exports to Tunisia amounted to JD12.6 million, while imports from Tunisia for the same year stood at JD12.5 million.

Shuraim stressed the importance of supporting opportunities for joint tourism cooperation, facilitating the mutual flow of tourists and promoting Tunisia tourism through Jordanian travel companies.

Additionally, he stressed the need to find solutions to the challenges facing trade exchange between Zarqa municipality, especially maritime transport, noting importance of Tunisair (TU) decision to re-operate its flights to Jordan, which have been suspended since 2008, to provide the
opportunity to attract investors and increase volume of trade exchange.

For her part, the Tunisian envoy praised efforts to increase trade exchange, pointing to the key Tunisian exports, namely clothing and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, electrical equipment and spare parts for mechanical devices.

The diplomat stressed Tunisia’s keenness to maintain bilateral economic and trade relations, noting that the Tunisian embassy will work to contact with the ZCC to remove obstacles facing the two countries’ trade exchanges and movement of goods.

The envoy noted visits from Jordan to Tunisia do not require a visa and see the products for investors, merchants and tourists.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the need to intensify visits by trade delegations, organize joint business forums and exhibitions, network Jordanian and Tunisian businesspeople, according to a ZCC statement.

The discussions also called on launching a joint updated database to explore the
two countries’ available economic and investment opportunities and expand the commodity base.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Petroleum Derivatives Pricing Committee announced on Sunday changes to fuel prices for the period from July 1 to 31.

The selling price of 90-octane gasoline has been reduced to JD 0.9 from JD 0.915 per liter, and the selling price of 95-octane gasoline has been lowered to JD 1.14 from JD 1.155 per liter. Conversely, the price of diesel has been increased to JD 0.705 from JD 0.7 per liter.

The committee also decided to maintain the price of kerosene at JD 0.62 per liter and to keep the price of a domestic gas cylinder (12.5 kg) fixed at JD 7 per cylinder.

During its meeting on Sunday, the committee reviewed the international prices of crude oil and petroleum derivatives for June and compared them to the prices in May. The global price rates indicated a decline in the prices of both 90-octane and 95-octane gasoline, while the price of diesel increased during June.

After applying the pricing formula based on international prices to all petroleum derivatives, the committee determined that the price
of 90-octane gasoline decreased by JD 0.015 per liter, the price of 95-octane gasoline also decreased by JD 0.015 per liter, and the price of diesel increased by JD 0.005 per liter.

Source: Jordan News Agency