Jordan is committed to help Lebanon resolve its power crisis and meet its energy needs, Jordan's prime minister said on Thursday during a visit to Beirut.
The visit was the first by a senior foreign government official to Beirut since Najib Mikati’s Cabinet assumed its duties after a year of political paralysis that accelerated the country's financial meltdown.
“We have an interest in supporting Lebanon and preserving its stability, and we will not be late in securing its needs," Bisher Al Khasawneh told reporters after meeting the Lebanese prime minister.
The two officials discussed potential agreements to help energy-starved Lebanon meet its electricity needs, Mr Al Khasawneh said.
"We discussed the issue of importing gas and electricity to deal with the energy crisis, and efforts that are currently under way with our brothers to secure [Lebanon’s] needs from Jordan and a number of agreements that need to be ratified.”
“We want agreements that are beneficial to the Lebanese and Jordanian peoples, rather than fictitious deals.”
Mr Mikati said the energy minister will pursue discussions with his Jordanian counterpart in this regard.
Jordan fully reopened its main border crossing with Syria on Wednesday in a move that experts say could signal efforts to bring Syria back into the Arab fold.
The US, which has suspended its diplomatic presence in Syria in 2012, has agreed to help Lebanon secure electricity, President Michel Aoun’s office said this month, implying Washington was ready to waive sanctions that prohibit official transactions with Syria.
Mr Al Khasawneh, who also met Mr Aoun on Thursday, said Jordan was ready and committed to supporting Lebanon.
"President Aoun asked me to deliver a written letter addressed to HE King Abdallah," Mr Al Khasawneh told reporters before leaving the presidential palace to meet Speaker Nabih Berri.
Jordan had hosted a meeting this month in Amman along with the Egyptian, Syrian and Lebanese energy ministers to discuss Lebanon’s energy needs. The meeting followed a visit by a Lebanese delegation led by former deputy prime minister Zeina Akar to Damascus for the same purpose.
Damascus has said it was willing to help Lebanon import electricity to cover its power deficit.
Lebanon’s electricity problems have intensified in recent months as the state-owned power company further rationed its supply over fuel shortages.
The shortages have been sparked by the Central Bank’s decision to lift subsidies on fuel imports among other vital commodities to protect its dwindling foreign currency reserves.
On Wednesday, the government decided to ask the Central Bank to provide a $100 million loan to the state power company to boost its electricity supply, Energy Minister Walid Fayyad said. Electricity du Liban has been providing only up to four hours of power daily across many parts of the country.
Mr Fayyad said the government was seeking to boost power supply before deciding on raising electricity tariffs. The state-owned company has been operating at a loss for nearly two decades, selling electricity below production costs.
Private generators that used to make up for state power rationing have also cut their electricity supply because of diesel shortages that risked shutting down hospitals, schools and other vital infrastructure.
The shortages and deteriorating living conditions have sparked violence across the country as consumers compete for access to petrol and diesel.
The World Bank described Lebanon’s crisis as one of the most severe globally since the 1850s. The financial meltdown has plunged more than half the population into poverty with the local currency losing over 90 per cent of its value against the dollar and commercial banks denying depositors access to the bulk of their savings.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Motori Profile
Date started: March 2020
Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa
Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi
Sector: Insurance Sector
Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Safe City Group
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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SPEC%20SHEET
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The Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize
This year’s winners of the US$4 million Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize will be recognised and rewarded in Abu Dhabi on January 15 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week, which runs in the capital from January 13 to 20.
From solutions to life-changing technologies, the aim is to discover innovative breakthroughs to create a new and sustainable energy future.
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Poacher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERichie%20Mehta%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nimisha%20Sajayan%2C%20Roshan%20Mathew%2C%20Dibyendu%20Bhattacharya%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Day 3 stumps
New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)
Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last