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London: The British pound strengthened against the US dollar but fell against the euro on Wednesday.

According to Jordan News Agency, the pound increased by 0.23 per cent against the dollar, reaching $1.3308. Conversely, it declined by 0.10 per cent against the euro, trading at pound 1.1870.

Baghdad: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs Ayman Safadi is set to begin a working visit to Baghdad on Wednesday to take part in the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers ahead of the 34th Arab League Summit. During the visit, Safadi will also hold meetings with several of his counterparts participating in the summit.

According to Jordan News Agency, the visit aims to coordinate and discuss key issues that will be addressed at the upcoming Arab League Summit. Safadi’s engagement in these preparatory discussions underscores the importance of collaboration among Arab nations in addressing regional challenges and opportunities.

The Arab League Summit, now in its 34th iteration, serves as a platform for member states to deliberate on crucial matters affecting the Arab world. The participation of foreign ministers in the preparatory meeting highlights the commitment of these nations to ensure a productive and cohesive summit.

Safadi’s scheduled meetings with other foreign ministers are expected to facilitate bilateral discussions and strengthen diplomatic ties. These interactions are crucial for fostering a united approach towards common goals within the Arab League framework.

Rehab: Rehab Municipality Mayor Akram Harran Harahsheh and representatives from the Italian organization AVSI held discussions on enhancing joint cooperation to develop the local tourism sector and strengthen community skills through specialized training programs supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.

According to Jordan News Agency, the municipality stated that the meeting aligns with the project’s broader objective to empower local communities by developing available tourism resources and offering high-quality training in multiple fields aimed at increasing youth competency and economic empowerment.

The participants emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange and collaboration among partner organizations, which would positively impact sustainable local development and generate new economic opportunities in the region.

The statement noted that the coming phase is expected to include the implementation of several field activities and training workshops in partnership with relevant local and international institutions in the Rehab district.

London: UK Minister of State for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, emphasized that Israel must comply with the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and called for the immediate lifting of restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

According to Jordan News Agency, in an address to the British Parliament on Wednesday, Falconer described the obstruction of aid delivery as “appalling,” noting that “tons of food are rotting at Gaza’s borders while people are dying of hunger.”

He further criticized some Israeli officials for reportedly using the restriction of aid as a pressure tactic, calling such an approach “cruel and unjustifiable.”

“More Palestinians are being killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight. This must stop,” Falconer added.

Aqaba: The eco-friendly megaship AICC HUANGHU docked for the first time at the Port of Aqaba on Wednesday, marking a milestone in the port’s operational history and regional logistics. Measuring 200 meters in length and 38 meters in width, the vessel is among the latest generation of environmentally friendly roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ships and is carrying 7,000 vehicles.

According to Jordan News Agency, Mahmoud Khalifat, Director General of the Aqaba Company for Ports Operation and Management, stated, “This is the first time such a large and eco-friendly vessel has berthed at the Port of Aqaba.” He emphasized that the arrival of the AICC HUANGHU represents a strategic boost to regional and global trade, offering significant savings in time, cost, and fuel consumption.

Khalifat highlighted that the ship contributes to sustainable logistics chains, making it the optimal and fastest choice for maintaining supply chain continuity. The vessel has commenced offloading its cargo of vehicles at the new port’s berths.

The arrival of the AICC HUANGHU underscores Aqaba’s growing capacity to handle modern, large-scale shipping while aligning with environmental and sustainability goals.

Amman: Jordan and the United Arab Emirates will officially activate their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on Thursday, marking a milestone in bilateral cooperation aimed at deepening ties across a wide spectrum of economic sectors.

According to Jordan News Agency, the agreement, which was signed in October last year under the auspices of His Majesty King Abdullah II and UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is designed to open new avenues for strategic collaboration, unlock investment opportunities, and promote economic integration between the two nations.

Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply, Yarub Qudah, said the agreement represents a major leap in economic cooperation and lays the groundwork for dynamic partnerships, particularly by encouraging the private sector to capitalize on synergies in areas such as industry and trade.

“The agreement provides a flexible and modern framework to reduce technical barriers, open markets, and facilitate the flow of goods in a fair and non-discriminatory commercial environment,” Qudah noted in a statement to Petra. It also establishes a joint investment council and broadens cooperation in services, creating new channels for cross-border business and enterprise.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, highlighted the strategic significance of the agreement, stating that the two countries aim to boost non-oil bilateral trade to over $8 billion by 2032, up from $5.6 billion in 2023.

“This agreement signals a new chapter of constructive collaboration with Jordan,” Al Zeyoudi said. “It strengthens our economic and trade relations, builds a platform for shared growth, and expands opportunities for long-term partnerships between our business communities.”

He emphasized the UAE’s longstanding strategic partnership with Jordan, citing a 138% increase in non-oil trade over the past decade. The UAE is Jordan’s fifth-largest global trading partner and its leading foreign investor, with mutual investments valued at approximately $22.5 billion.

The agreement eliminates or reduces tariffs, dismantles trade barriers, and enhances supply chain connectivity paving the way for significant growth across sectors such as renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and tourism.

Al Zeyoudi noted that Jordan’s skilled workforce and strong industrial base especially in phosphate, textiles, and pharmaceuticals complement the UAE’s capabilities in infrastructure, energy, and finance, creating a collaborative ecosystem with global reach.

The CEPA was concluded in just three rounds of negotiations, a testament to both countries’ shared commitment to fast-tracking mutual economic benefits.

Al Zeyoudi also underscored the agreement’s role in empowering SMEs by easing trade restrictions, encouraging innovation, and offering platforms that engage the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The agreement is part of the UAE’s broader CEPA strategy, a cornerstone of its economic diversification agenda. The UAE aims to double the size of its economy to $800 billion by 2030 and exceed $1.1 trillion in non-oil trade by 2031.

With 27 CEPA deals now concluded globally, the UAE has extended its commercial reach to over a quarter of the world’s population.

Notably, this is the UAE’s first CEPA with an Arab nation, and the first to come into force underscoring both countries’ commitment to fostering stronger trade and investment ties, advancing entrepreneurship, and supporting the growth of SMEs across the region.