Coronavirus Crisis May Lead to Resignation of Jordanian Ministers

The streets of the Jordanian capital are seen empty after the start of a nationwide curfew, amid concerns over the coronavirus spread, in Amman, Jordan, March 21, 2020. (Reuters)
The streets of the Jordanian capital are seen empty after the start of a nationwide curfew, amid concerns over the coronavirus spread, in Amman, Jordan, March 21, 2020. (Reuters)
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Coronavirus Crisis May Lead to Resignation of Jordanian Ministers

The streets of the Jordanian capital are seen empty after the start of a nationwide curfew, amid concerns over the coronavirus spread, in Amman, Jordan, March 21, 2020. (Reuters)
The streets of the Jordanian capital are seen empty after the start of a nationwide curfew, amid concerns over the coronavirus spread, in Amman, Jordan, March 21, 2020. (Reuters)

Reports have circulated in Jordan in the past two days that the coronavirus crisis may prompt the resignation of some ministers, who were widely criticized for their mismanagement of the outbreak in the country.

Agriculture Minister Ibrahim Shehadeh was the first to resign days ago over “administrative mistakes committed in some agricultural directorates.”

Official sources did not reveal to Asharq Al-Awsat the reasons behind the expected resignations and whether they will be accompanied by a cabinet reshuffle.

It is still yet unclear whether Prime Minister Omar Razzaz will assign ministers from his government to carry out the duties of the three ministers observers said will most likely resign.

In other news, after about a month since the closure of schools as a precaution over the coronavirus outbreak, parents have been demanding to know the fate of the academic year.

Education Ministry spokesman Walid al-Jallad said remote teaching is still active on local television and private channels that were launched for this purpose.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that official exams will be held for high school students in early July as scheduled, noting that distance learning is enough to complete the school curriculum in June.

Jallad, however, warned that the aggravation of the health crisis could still affect these plans.

Jordan has reported 345 virus cases and five deaths.



Syrian Christians Celebrate Christmas in Damascus Amid Tight Security

An aerial picture shows a view of a crowd around a Christmas tree in Damascus on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
An aerial picture shows a view of a crowd around a Christmas tree in Damascus on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
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Syrian Christians Celebrate Christmas in Damascus Amid Tight Security

An aerial picture shows a view of a crowd around a Christmas tree in Damascus on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
An aerial picture shows a view of a crowd around a Christmas tree in Damascus on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)

Syrian Christians gathered at churches in the country's capital Damascus on Wednesday amid tight security measures to celebrate their first Christmas after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

"Today there is a large deployment of security to protect the churches, fearing sabotage, but things are normal," Nicola Yazgi told dpa, while attending a mass in eastern Damascus.

Security forces affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is now leading Syria's interim government, were deployed outside churches and in the streets in Christian-majority neighborhoods in the capital, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

According to the UK-based war monitor, churches across Syria - including in the southern city of al-Sweida, and in the northern cities of Aleppo and Idlib - opened their doors for Christmas celebrations.

Yazgi said he was celebrating two things this year: "Christmas and the victory of the revolution and the fall of the tyrant. We hope that today will be the day of salvation from the era of al-Assad family injustices."

Suad al-Zein, an engineer, also joined the mass in Damascus. She expressed her joy despite the lack of decorations in the streets: "For us, joy is in our hearts."

Civil war broke out in Syria in 2011 following pro-democracy protests against al-Assad's regime.

In late November, HTS and other opposition groups launched a rapid offensive, making major territorial gains before capturing Damascus earlier this month. Al-Assad fled to Russia with his family.

Since then, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has tried to reassure minorities in Syria, promising moderation and respect for all religious sects.

A group of people burnt a Christmas tree in Hama province on Monday evening, prompting hundreds of protesters to take to the streets in several cities.