Category: General

Pyongyang, North Korea has reaffirmed its plan to launch several spy satellites this year.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted the vice director of the National Aerospace Technology General Bureau as saying that last year’s successful launch of the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 has brought about substantial progress in strengthening national defense capabilities.

He stressed North Korea will build a space power without fail by accelerating its space development in a sustainable manner.

North Korea had earlier revealed a plan to launch three more spy satellites in 2024.

North Korea had successfully launched the Malligyong-1 satellite into orbit in November 21 after two previous failures in May and August 2023.

Source: Qatar News Agency

KUWAIT, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Monday Kuwait’s strong condemnation of the Israeli occupation’s airstrike, which targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus Syria, causing many casualties and injuries.

In a statement, the ministry said that such attack is considered a clear violation of international law, which supposedly protects diplomatic missions around the world from such a blatant attack.

The ministry calls on the international community to bear responsibility and exerts efforts to protect the stability and safety in the region.

Earlier, several casualties and injuries occurred because of an Israeli missile attack that targeted the Iranian consulate building in Mezzeh neighborhood in Damascus.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

KUWAIT, Kuwait Municipality announced on Tuesday that it had signed a joint contract with the Commercial Bank regarding the development and restoration of Derwaza of Al-Abd Al-Razzaq tunnel in Kuwait City. Chairman of Kuwait Municipality Saud Al-Dabbous said in a press statement that the ministry would ensure the completion of the project in accordance with the highest safety conditions.

Al-Dabbous added, after signing the contract with the Chairman of Commercial Bank of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Al-Duaij Al-Sabah that the Municipality addressed the Fatwa and Legislation Department to ensure the correctness of the donation procedures.

He praised the initiative of the Commercial Bank and its members and the participation of the private sector in these vital projects.

Al-Dabbous explained that the engineering defect in Al-Derwaza is not an easy matter, adding that the follow-up of the work will be under his personal supervision.

On her part, Deputy Director General of the Projects Sector in the Municipality Maysa
Bushehri confirmed that the contracts have been studied and the necessary technical and engineering measures have been taken to begin the work plan for the development and restoration of the tunnel in coordination with the contractor from the donor bank.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

A total of about 7.726 million subscriptions were recorded to mobile broadband services until end of the last quarter of 2023, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) announced.

According to the TRC statistical report, which addresses Jordan’s telecommunications sector indicators for the last quarter of the year 2023, subscriptions were divided into 73% for prepaid services and 27% for post-paid packages, while mobile voice service subscriptions reached 85% and data lines hit only 15%.

The total mobile voice traffic amounted to about 7.6 billion minutes, distributed over 97% made locally and 3% internationally, and a total of about 260 million text messages were sent.

Additionally, prevalence rate for mobile phone subscriptions until the end of the last quarter of 2023 reached 67.1% in ratio to the total population, while prevalence reached 103.3% per population over the age of 15 years.

Source: Jordan News Agency

His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday directed the government to facilitate the Arab Potash company’s (APC) projects in water and energy, including solar power initiatives, to enhance competitiveness in global markets.

During a meeting with APC representatives at Al Husseiniya Palace attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty commended the company’s development in line with its investment plan, which aligns with the Economic Modernisation Vision.

The King called for stepping up work on value added expansion and investment projects, as well as sustainable energy projects that are in line with Jordan’s environmental commitments.

His Majesty also stressed the need to prioritise sectors that add high value to the economy and generate jobs, urging the government and the APC to study prospects of cooperation and investment to develop the Risheh gas field after exploration activities conclude.

The King commended the APC’s efforts in recruiting competent employees, enhan
cing governance, expanding products, and tapping new markets.

For his part, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the government is working on supporting national industries, and investing in natural minerals across the country.

He added that the government recognises the need to create a suitable environment for the private sector, including the APC, to enable them to compete in global markets, highlighting mining as a key sector in the economic vision.

APC Chairman Shehadah Abu Hdaib said the company is a pillar of the Jordanian economy through its direct contribution to the state budget, which amounts to 65 percent of profit, adding that the APC and its affiliate companies are the largest employers in the industrial sector, noting the company’s partnership with the government.

The company’s president and CEO, Maen Nsour, reviewed performance indicators during (2014-2023), which saw an increase in production volume and sales.

On indicators during (2019-2023), Nsour said production volume reached 13.1 mi
llion tonnes, with net sales of $4.7 billion and a net profit of $2 billion, as well as a contribution of $7.3 billion to the foreign exchange reserves.

He noted that the company’s strategy during (2024-2028) focuses on innovation, research, and development, automation, and sustainability.

Future plans for the APC include expanding bromine production, expanding projects in the southern region, building an industrial complex in Aqaba, and increasing potash production by 35 percent through projects valued at $1.2 billion out of a total of investments worth $1.5 billion over the upcoming five years.

Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan and Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh attended the meeting.

Source: Jordan News Agency