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Jordan's Prime Minister Contracts COVID-19

Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh speaks during a news conference, September 30, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh speaks during a news conference, September 30, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Jordan's Prime Minister Contracts COVID-19

Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh speaks during a news conference, September 30, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh speaks during a news conference, September 30, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Jordan's Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh has tested positive for COVID-19 during an official visit to Egypt, the state news agency Petra quoted the information minister as saying on Monday.

COVID tests after a meeting between Khasawneh and his Egyptian counterpart proved positive and all other official meetings were cancelled, including a planned meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the minister added.

The prime minister will isolate at home after returning to Jordan, the report said.

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Iraq Reopens Syria Crossing for Trade, Passenger Traffic

A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
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Iraq Reopens Syria Crossing for Trade, Passenger Traffic

A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad

Iraq has officially reopened the Qaim border crossing with Syria for trade and passenger traffic, a spokesman for the Iraqi border authority said on Saturday, marking a key step in efforts to normalize relations and revive economic ties between the two countries.

“The Qaim crossing is now fully operational for both cargo trucks and civilian movement,” the spokesman told Reuters, adding that the reopening followed joint security assessments by Iraqi and Syrian officials.

The move comes three months after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Baghdad and urged Iraq to resume cross-border trade. The crossing had been shut in the wake of the revolt that toppled President Bashar al-Assad and the ensuing years of conflict that destabilized the region.

The reopening is also seen as a sign of warming ties between Baghdad and Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has sought to re-establish diplomatic and economic relations with regional neighbors. Iraqi officials say the two governments have intensified coordination on border security and trade facilitation since al-Sharaa took office last year.

“This crossing will serve as a strategic corridor for commodity trade between Iraq and Syria,” said Turki al-Mahallawi, mayor of the town of al-Qaim, where the border post is located.