Jordan

Best of BS Opinion: Sebi reforms to make things easier for investors

From Sebi's investor-friendly rule changes and PM Modi's West Asia tour to debates on power grid reform, shrimp exports and a Zomato biography, here's today's Best of BS Opinion.

Western approaches: PM Modi's three-nation tour has created useful momentum

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) is the second FTA signed between India and a West Asian nation - the first being with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022

Jordan confirms its air force joined US strikes on Islamic State in Syria

Jordan confirmed Saturday that its air force took part in strikes launched by the United States on Islamic State group targets in Syria in retaliation for the killing of three US citizens earlier this month. The US launched military strikes Friday on multiple sites in Syria to eliminate Islamic State group fighters and weapons in retaliation for an attack by a Syrian gunman that killed two US troops and an American civilian interpreter almost a week earlier. The Jordanian military said in a statement that its air force participated in precise airstrikes... targeting several ISIS positions in southern Syria, using a different abbreviation for the Islamic State group. Jordan is one of 90 countries making up the global coalition against IS, which Syria recently joined. The US military did not say how many had been killed in Friday's strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that at least five people were killed, including the leader and members

India, Jordan aim to double trade to $5 billion over the next five years

The two sides finalised agreements in the fields of culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure and a twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora

India, Jordan aim to double bilateral trade to $5 bn in 5 years: MEA

Shortly after this briefing, PM Modi, along with King Abdullah II, will jointly address the India-Jordan Business Forum, which will be attended by leading business dignitaries from both countries

India, Jordan share united and clear stance against terrorism: PM Modi

India and Jordan share a common and clear stance against terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he met King Abdullah II and discussed bilateral ties and exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Modi, who arrived in Jordan on a two-day visit at the invitation of Abdullah II, was warmly welcomed by the king at the Husseiniya Palace, where they held a one-on-one meeting before the delegation-level talks. The two sides agreed to further deepen their partnership, especially in the fields of trade and investment, defence and security, counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation, fertiliser and agriculture, renewable energy, and tourism. Both leaders reaffirmed their united stand against terrorism. "We hope that peace and stability will prevail in the region. We share a common and clear stance against terrorism. Under your leadership, Jordan has sent a strong and strategic message to the world against terrorism, extremism, and radicalisation,

PM Modi embarks on three-nation visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday embarked on a visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman -- countries which enjoy civilizational ties and exceptional bilateral relations with India. "First, I will be visiting Jordan, on the invitation of His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein. This historic visit will mark 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries," the prime minister said in his departure statement. Modi will hold detailed discussions with Jordanian King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, and will also meet Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah. In his first visit to Ethiopia, the prime minister will address the Joint Session of Parliament and share his thoughts on India's journey as the "Mother of Democracy" and the value that the India-Ethiopia partnership can bring to the Global South. The prime minister will also hold discussions with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and meet the Indian diaspora. "On the final

India a significant trade partner for Ethiopia and Jordan, shows data

India-Ethiopia trade at $550M, India-Jordan at $2.67B; pharma and engineering exports key focus areas

India, Jordan vow to deepen cooperation across trade, energy, and defence

The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, during which both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties, including political, economic, trade, defence

UAE, Jordan lead Gaza aid airdrop with France, Germany, Italy, and Spain

Under President Mohamed bin Zayed's directives, the UAE is leading global efforts to deliver urgent land, air, and sea aid to Palestinians in Gaza amid severe humanitarian conditions

Evacuation flight with 160 Indians diverted as Iran strikes shut airspace

An evacuation flight carrying 160 Indians who had crossed into Jordan from Israel on Sunday and departed from Amman on Monday afternoon was diverted to Kuwait after Iranian strikes on US bases in the region led to airspace closures. Flight Number J91254, which took off from Amman around 2:30 pm on Monday to Kuwait and then to Delhi had to change direction mid-way and return to Kuwait following Iranian attacks in retaliation to the American bombing of its nuclear installations on June 22. The Islamic Republic had threatened to retaliate in the wake of the American decision to join forces with Israel in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz and Esfahan. The evacuees have been put in a hall at the airport and await further instructions, Arvind Shukla, a post-doctoral fellow on the flight told PTI over the phone. The Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi and the Embassy in Kuwait are keeping in touch with the authorities and closely monitoring the situation. Despite bei

Our airspace will reopen to civilian aircraft: Jordan's state-run media

Jordan will reopen its airspace to civilian aircraft Saturday morning, its state-run media reported, signalling the Mideast kingdom believes there is no immediate danger of further attacks. Jordan's state-run Petra news agency said the skies would reopen at 7:30 am local. Jordan's airspace had seen Iranian drones and missiles cross through it, with Israeli fighter jets likely engaging targets there. The crossfire between Israel and Iran disrupted East-West travel through the Mideast, a key global aviation route.

Man from Kerala shot dead while trying to cross Israeli border illegally

The deceased has been identified as 47-year-old Thomas Gabriel, a resident of Thumba, near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala

Jordan agrees to take in Palestinian children after Trump's US aid threat

Donald Trump has praised the Jordanian leader's commitment to accepting sick Palestinian children, calling it a 'beautiful' act

Trump threatens to cut aid to Jordan, Egypt if they refute Gaza relocation

US President Donald Trump doubled down on his redevelopment plan for Gaza, stating that Palestinians relocated would not be allowed to return

Trump's Gaza refugee idea falls flat with Jordan and confounds Senate ally

President Donald Trump's push to have Egypt and Jordan take in large numbers of Palestinian refugees from besieged Gaza fell flat with the Amman government and perplexed a congressional ally. Trump nonetheless planned to discuss the idea more on Sunday with Egypt's leader. Fighting that broke out in the territory after ruling Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023 is paused due to a fragile ceasefire, but much of Gaza's population has been left largely homeless by an Israeli military campaign. Trump told reporters Saturday aboard Air Force One that moving about a 1.5 million people away from Gaza might mean that "we just clean out that whole thing. Trump relayed what he told Jordan's King Abdullah when the two held a call earlier Saturday: I said to him, I'd love for you to take on more because I'm looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it's a mess.' The president said he would make a similar appeal to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi during their conversation while .

Trump wants Egypt to accept more refugees, floats plan to 'clean out' Gaza

President Donald Trump said Saturday he'd like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they are accepting from the Gaza Strip potentially moving out enough of the population to just clean out the war-torn area to create virtual clean slate. During a 20-minute question-and-answer session with reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump said he discussed his vision on a call earlier in the day with King Abdullah II of Jordan and would speak Sunday with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt. I'd like him to take people. I'd like Egypt to take people, said Trump. You're talking about, probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say, You know it's, over.' Speaking about the effects of Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, Trump said he complimented Jordan for having successfully accepted Palestinian refugees and that he told the king, I'd love for you to take on more, cause I'm looking at the whole

Two charged in Iran-backed drone strike case that killed 3 US troops

Two men, including a dual Iranian American citizen, have been arrested on charges that they exported sensitive technology to Iran that was used in a drone attack in Jordan that killed three American troops early this year and injured dozens of other service members, the Justice Department said Monday. The pair were arrested after FBI specialists who analyzed the drone traced the navigation system to an Iranian company operated by one of the defendants, who relied on technology funnelled from the U.S. by his alleged co-conspirator, officials said. We often cite hypothetical risk when we talk about the dangers of American technology getting into dangerous hands, said U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy, the top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, in this situation, we are not speculating. The defendants were identified as Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, who prosecutors say works at a Massachusetts-based semiconductor company, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, who was arrested Monday in ..

Conflict in West Asia impacting trade with Israel, Jordan, Lebanon: GTRI

The escalating conflict in West Asia is hurting India's trade with countries like Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon that are involved directly in the war, think tank GTRI said on Tuesday. To navigate these turbulent times, India must stay vigilant and adaptable to the fast-changing geopolitical and trade landscape in West Asia, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. During January-July 2024, India's trade with countries directly impacted by the conflict has faced significant challenges. "Exports to Israel dropped sharply by 63.5 per cent, Jordan saw a 38.5 per cent decline due to spillover effects, and Lebanon experienced a 6.8 per cent decrease," GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said. He added that the Israel-Hamas war, which erupted in October 2023, has now extended to Lebanon, Syria, and is indirectly impacting Jordan and Iran. Key regional players like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar have thus far remained uninvolved in the conflict. "This neutrality has allowed Ind

Relative of King of Jordan, 3 others arrested for insider-trading plot

Authorities charged four men, including a relative of the King of Jordan, for conspiring to make insider stock trades on a business acquired by one of South Florida's major publicly held companies, MasTec. Federico Nannini, 26; his father, Mauro Nannini, 63; and two of his friends, Alejandro Thermiotis, 26; and Francisco Tonarely, 25, were arrested Friday and charged in a federal indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and 24 related offenses, The Miami Herald reported. Thermiotis is the King of Jordan's relative. Thermiotis' brother, Jameel, married King Abdulla's daughter, Princess Iman, last year. The Jordanian Royal Palace did not respond to a request for comment. According to the indictment from the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, the four defendants shared confidential information within a close circle of family and friends, and used it to buy shares at a lower price and then turn a USD 1 million profit after the informatio