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Showing posts with label Jordan. Show all posts

Report says explosion at Beirut Port equivalent to 4.5 magnitude earthquake, the blast killed more than 100 says Lebanese Red Cross

Report says explosion at Beirut Port equivalent to 4.5 magnitude earthquake, the blast killed more than 100 says Lebanese Red Cross

State of emergency can not be rule out

"This is not just ammonium nitrate," former CIA operative says of explosion

UK says too early to speculate on cause of massive blast in Beirut



The Jordanian Seismological Observatory of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources recorded the explosion that occurred at the Beirut Port on Tuesday, and stated that its intensity was equivalent to an earthquake with the magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter Scale, RT reported. 

Lebanese President Michel Aoun called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday and said a two-week state of emergency should be declared following a massive explosion in Beirut that killed at least 100 people and injured 4,000 others.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab called for a day of mourning on Wednesday.

According to an AFP report, the entire port engulfed was in fire, ships ablaze at sea and crumbling buildings: the site of the massive blast in Beirut's harbour area resembled a post-nuclear landscape.

Ambulance sirens rang throughout the area as vehicles ferried the dead out for at least three hours and fire trucks rushed in and out of the blast zone.

Inside the port itself, the hangars looked like charred cans, everything destroyed beyond recognition as fire-fighting helicopters flew overhead, dumping water.

Every parked vehicle within a radius of several hundred metres sustained damage from blast, so big that it was felt in Cyprus, 240 kilometres (150 miles) away.

The cars closest to the site of the explosion were reduced to scrapyard metal, their wailing alarms and flashing lights adding to the chaos.

The head of the observatory, Mahmoud Al-Qaryouti, said in a press statement that the Jordanian earthquake monitoring stations recorded the explosion at 06:08 minutes, and that the explosion was equivalent to a 4.5-magnitude tremor.

Al-Qaryouti described the energy released from the explosion as “very strong”.

The source of the powerful explosion that rocked the city of Beirut on Tuesday has yet to be determined; however, some reports claim that the blast was a result of a massive nitrate storage catching fire at the 12th Ward.

The Earlier report confirmed that as a result of this massive explosion, over 80 people have been killed and more than 3,500 others have been hospitalized for injuries sustained during and after the blast.

Meanwhile, more than 100 people have been reportedly killed in the blast in Beirut, Sky News Arabia TV channel reported on Wednesday citing the Lebanese Red Cross.

According to the report, more than 4,000 people were injured.

"Until now over 4,000 people have been injured and over 100 have lost their lives. Our teams are still conducting search and rescue operations in the surrounding areas," Lebanese Red Cross says.

Lebanese officials said they expect the death toll to rise further as emergency workers dig through the rubble to search for survivors.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Officials linked the blast to some 2,750 tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate that were being stored in a warehouse at the port for six years. 


"This is not just ammonium nitrate," former CIA operative says of explosion

Robert Baer, a former CIA operative with extensive experience in the Middle East, said videos of Tuesday's blast showed that while ammonium nitrate may have been present in the warehouse, he does not believe it was responsible for the massive explosion that ensued, CNN reported.

Initial reports blamed the blast on a major fire at a warehouse for firecrackers near the port, according to Lebanese state news agency NNA.

Lebanon's Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, later said that 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers and bombs, had been stored for six years at a port warehouse without safety measures, "endangering the safety of citizens," according to a statement.

Baer said he thinks that there were military munitions and propellants present. He speculated it could have been a weapons cache, but it's unclear who it belongs to.
"It was clearly a military explosive," he said. "It was not fertilizer like ammonium nitrate. I'm quite sure of that."

"You look at that orange ball (of fire), and it's clearly, like I said, a military explosive."

Baer noted that white powder seen in the videos of the incident before the major blast are likely an indicator that ammonium nitrate was present and burning. He also noticed a lot of munitions going off ahead of the larger explosion.

No evidence of an attack: Baer said while he believes the explosion does not look like solely ammonium nitrate, there's still no evidence that this was an attack. The government has blamed poor management and vowed to get to the bottom of it.

"It almost looks like an accident," he said. "It was incompetence, and maybe it was corruption, but the question is whether it was military explosives, who was it going to or why was it stored there?"

Baer isn't confident we'll ever know the truth.

"I've worked in Lebanon for years, and no one is going to want to admit they kept military explosives at the port. It's a stupid thing to do."

Investigation launched: Prime Minister Diab's account appeared to be backed by Lebanon's General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim, who said a "highly explosive material" had been confiscated years earlier and stored in the warehouse, just minutes' walk from Beirut's shopping and nightlife districts.

The Prime Minister has launched an investigation into the explosion, saying he "will not rest until we find those responsible for what happened, hold them accountable, and impose maximum punishment."

As yet, there is no clear evidence to suggest the source of the blast.

An investigation committee has been tasked to determine who was responsible for the explosion within five days.

The families of victims will be paid compensation.

 Import traffic will be routed to the Tripoli port in northern Lebanon.


UK says too early to speculate on cause of massive blast in Beirut


The United Kingdom has said it was too early to speculate on the cause of a massive blast that ripped through Beirut.

When asked about speculation about the causes of the blast, British junior education minister Nick Gibb said: "The Lebanese authorities are of course investigating the cause of that tragedy and before we have the results of that inquiry it is premature to speculate."

Gibb also told Sky that Britain was discussing what technical and financial assistance could be offered to Lebanon.


Source: RT, CNN, AFP

State of emergency can not be rule out

"This is not just ammonium nitrate," former CIA operative says of explosion

UK says too early to speculate on cause of massive blast in Beirut



The Jordanian Seismological Observatory of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources recorded the explosion that occurred at the Beirut Port on Tuesday, and stated that its intensity was equivalent to an earthquake with the magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter Scale, RT reported. 

Lebanese President Michel Aoun called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday and said a two-week state of emergency should be declared following a massive explosion in Beirut that killed at least 100 people and injured 4,000 others.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab called for a day of mourning on Wednesday.

According to an AFP report, the entire port engulfed was in fire, ships ablaze at sea and crumbling buildings: the site of the massive blast in Beirut's harbour area resembled a post-nuclear landscape.

Ambulance sirens rang throughout the area as vehicles ferried the dead out for at least three hours and fire trucks rushed in and out of the blast zone.

Inside the port itself, the hangars looked like charred cans, everything destroyed beyond recognition as fire-fighting helicopters flew overhead, dumping water.

Every parked vehicle within a radius of several hundred metres sustained damage from blast, so big that it was felt in Cyprus, 240 kilometres (150 miles) away.

The cars closest to the site of the explosion were reduced to scrapyard metal, their wailing alarms and flashing lights adding to the chaos.

The head of the observatory, Mahmoud Al-Qaryouti, said in a press statement that the Jordanian earthquake monitoring stations recorded the explosion at 06:08 minutes, and that the explosion was equivalent to a 4.5-magnitude tremor.

Al-Qaryouti described the energy released from the explosion as “very strong”.

The source of the powerful explosion that rocked the city of Beirut on Tuesday has yet to be determined; however, some reports claim that the blast was a result of a massive nitrate storage catching fire at the 12th Ward.

The Earlier report confirmed that as a result of this massive explosion, over 80 people have been killed and more than 3,500 others have been hospitalized for injuries sustained during and after the blast.

Meanwhile, more than 100 people have been reportedly killed in the blast in Beirut, Sky News Arabia TV channel reported on Wednesday citing the Lebanese Red Cross.

According to the report, more than 4,000 people were injured.

"Until now over 4,000 people have been injured and over 100 have lost their lives. Our teams are still conducting search and rescue operations in the surrounding areas," Lebanese Red Cross says.

Lebanese officials said they expect the death toll to rise further as emergency workers dig through the rubble to search for survivors.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Officials linked the blast to some 2,750 tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate that were being stored in a warehouse at the port for six years. 


"This is not just ammonium nitrate," former CIA operative says of explosion

Robert Baer, a former CIA operative with extensive experience in the Middle East, said videos of Tuesday's blast showed that while ammonium nitrate may have been present in the warehouse, he does not believe it was responsible for the massive explosion that ensued, CNN reported.

Initial reports blamed the blast on a major fire at a warehouse for firecrackers near the port, according to Lebanese state news agency NNA.

Lebanon's Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, later said that 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers and bombs, had been stored for six years at a port warehouse without safety measures, "endangering the safety of citizens," according to a statement.

Baer said he thinks that there were military munitions and propellants present. He speculated it could have been a weapons cache, but it's unclear who it belongs to.
"It was clearly a military explosive," he said. "It was not fertilizer like ammonium nitrate. I'm quite sure of that."

"You look at that orange ball (of fire), and it's clearly, like I said, a military explosive."

Baer noted that white powder seen in the videos of the incident before the major blast are likely an indicator that ammonium nitrate was present and burning. He also noticed a lot of munitions going off ahead of the larger explosion.

No evidence of an attack: Baer said while he believes the explosion does not look like solely ammonium nitrate, there's still no evidence that this was an attack. The government has blamed poor management and vowed to get to the bottom of it.

"It almost looks like an accident," he said. "It was incompetence, and maybe it was corruption, but the question is whether it was military explosives, who was it going to or why was it stored there?"

Baer isn't confident we'll ever know the truth.

"I've worked in Lebanon for years, and no one is going to want to admit they kept military explosives at the port. It's a stupid thing to do."

Investigation launched: Prime Minister Diab's account appeared to be backed by Lebanon's General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim, who said a "highly explosive material" had been confiscated years earlier and stored in the warehouse, just minutes' walk from Beirut's shopping and nightlife districts.

The Prime Minister has launched an investigation into the explosion, saying he "will not rest until we find those responsible for what happened, hold them accountable, and impose maximum punishment."

As yet, there is no clear evidence to suggest the source of the blast.

An investigation committee has been tasked to determine who was responsible for the explosion within five days.

The families of victims will be paid compensation.

 Import traffic will be routed to the Tripoli port in northern Lebanon.


UK says too early to speculate on cause of massive blast in Beirut


The United Kingdom has said it was too early to speculate on the cause of a massive blast that ripped through Beirut.

When asked about speculation about the causes of the blast, British junior education minister Nick Gibb said: "The Lebanese authorities are of course investigating the cause of that tragedy and before we have the results of that inquiry it is premature to speculate."

Gibb also told Sky that Britain was discussing what technical and financial assistance could be offered to Lebanon.


Source: RT, CNN, AFP

U. S. reacts as Jordan's King Abdullah warns of ‘massive conflict’ with Israel if West Bank annexed

U. S. reacts as Jordan's King Abdullah warns of ‘massive conflict’ with Israel if West Bank annexed

 Jordanian monarch, King Abdullah II
The U.S. State Department reacted to the statement credited to the Jordanian monarch, King Abdullah II, who said that Israel’s planned annexation of the West Bank will undoubtedly lead to a “massive conflict” between them and the Hashemite Kingdom.

Jordanian King warned Israel against annexing the West Bank region this Summer, stating that this move will undoubtedly lead to a massive conflict between them and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

King ‘Abdullah said: “What would happen if the Palestinian National Authority collapsed? There would be more chaos and extremism in the region. If Israel really annexed the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.”

The Jordanian King said he does not want to make threats towards Israel, but should they move forward with the annexation, his country will not idly by. 

“I don’t want to make threats and create an atmosphere of loggerheads, but we are considering all options. We agree with many countries in Europe and the international community that the law of strength should not apply in the Middle East,” he added.

State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus on Friday said “the United States has close ties with Jordan. We know that Jordan plays a special role in the Middle East, especially its relationship with Israel.”  “What we hope for Israel and Jordan is that they will have a strong relationship not only at the security level, but also at the diplomatic and economic levels,” Ortagus said.

“Of course we understand that the King expressed his concern today, and it is precisely for this reason that we believe it is important to return to President Trump’s vision of peace and bring all parties to the negotiating table to work towards achieving this peace plan.”She said

On Israeli plans to annex part of the West Bank, Ortagus said that discussions on this issue should take place between Israel and the Palestinians as part of the peace process. She declined to respond directly to the question whether Washington gave a “green light” for Israel to annex parts of the West Bank.

The last major conflict between Jordan and Israel took place during the Six-Day War of 1967 where the Arab troops were defeated and Israel occupied most of the territories that are in question today.
 Jordanian monarch, King Abdullah II
The U.S. State Department reacted to the statement credited to the Jordanian monarch, King Abdullah II, who said that Israel’s planned annexation of the West Bank will undoubtedly lead to a “massive conflict” between them and the Hashemite Kingdom.

Jordanian King warned Israel against annexing the West Bank region this Summer, stating that this move will undoubtedly lead to a massive conflict between them and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

King ‘Abdullah said: “What would happen if the Palestinian National Authority collapsed? There would be more chaos and extremism in the region. If Israel really annexed the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.”

The Jordanian King said he does not want to make threats towards Israel, but should they move forward with the annexation, his country will not idly by. 

“I don’t want to make threats and create an atmosphere of loggerheads, but we are considering all options. We agree with many countries in Europe and the international community that the law of strength should not apply in the Middle East,” he added.

State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus on Friday said “the United States has close ties with Jordan. We know that Jordan plays a special role in the Middle East, especially its relationship with Israel.”  “What we hope for Israel and Jordan is that they will have a strong relationship not only at the security level, but also at the diplomatic and economic levels,” Ortagus said.

“Of course we understand that the King expressed his concern today, and it is precisely for this reason that we believe it is important to return to President Trump’s vision of peace and bring all parties to the negotiating table to work towards achieving this peace plan.”She said

On Israeli plans to annex part of the West Bank, Ortagus said that discussions on this issue should take place between Israel and the Palestinians as part of the peace process. She declined to respond directly to the question whether Washington gave a “green light” for Israel to annex parts of the West Bank.

The last major conflict between Jordan and Israel took place during the Six-Day War of 1967 where the Arab troops were defeated and Israel occupied most of the territories that are in question today.

Russian, Jordanian top diplomats discuss situation in Syria, bilateral cooperation

Russian, Jordanian top diplomats discuss situation in Syria, bilateral cooperation

The situation in Syria and issues of bilateral cooperation were in focus of telephone talks between Russian Jordanian Foreign Ministers, Sergey Lavrov and Ayman Al Safadi, the Russian foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"The sides exchanged views on key aspects of the regional agenda with a focus on the situation in Syria, including efforts to resolve problems of the civilian population in full compliance with the norms of international humanitarian law.

The two top diplomats expressed satisfaction over the accord reached by the Syrian parties on the organization of further work of the constitutional committee," the ministry said.

 "Al Safadi highly estimated the Russian side’s efforts in support to the implementation on the ground of the agreements reached within the Astana format."

The ministers also discussed issues of the Middle East settlement and stressed the inadmissibility of unilateral approaches and the necessity of the soonest creation of conditions for the resumption of direct Palestinian-Israeli dialogue on the basis of the United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Apart from that, the sides touched upon issues of bilateral cooperation. "The ministers reiterated Moscow’s and Amman’s commitment to the high level of political cooperation and invigoration of bilateral Russian-Jordanian cooperation," the ministry said.


The telephone conversation was initiated by the Jordanian side.

TASS
The situation in Syria and issues of bilateral cooperation were in focus of telephone talks between Russian Jordanian Foreign Ministers, Sergey Lavrov and Ayman Al Safadi, the Russian foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"The sides exchanged views on key aspects of the regional agenda with a focus on the situation in Syria, including efforts to resolve problems of the civilian population in full compliance with the norms of international humanitarian law.

The two top diplomats expressed satisfaction over the accord reached by the Syrian parties on the organization of further work of the constitutional committee," the ministry said.

 "Al Safadi highly estimated the Russian side’s efforts in support to the implementation on the ground of the agreements reached within the Astana format."

The ministers also discussed issues of the Middle East settlement and stressed the inadmissibility of unilateral approaches and the necessity of the soonest creation of conditions for the resumption of direct Palestinian-Israeli dialogue on the basis of the United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Apart from that, the sides touched upon issues of bilateral cooperation. "The ministers reiterated Moscow’s and Amman’s commitment to the high level of political cooperation and invigoration of bilateral Russian-Jordanian cooperation," the ministry said.


The telephone conversation was initiated by the Jordanian side.

TASS

Eight Death toll, 43 cases, Pakistan, Turkey, others close border with Iran

Eight Death toll, 43 cases, Pakistan, Turkey, others close border with Iran

Afghanistan bans travel to and from Iran

Armenia to 'suspend communication' with Iran for two weeks

Jordan bars entry to citizens from China, Iran, South Korea


Countries in Asian and middle east have reacted to the China's coronavirus outbreake in Iran by taken precautionary measures to contain further spread of the deadly mysterious virus in the region

Jordan has said it would bar citizens from China, Iran and South Korea from entering the kingdom in a bid to prevent the outbreak spreading. The minister of state for media affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of "preemptive measures ... following the rise in cases of coronavirus in South Korea, Iran" and China.

Turkey on Sunday announced it will "temporarily" close its land border with neighbouring Iran as alarm grows over a spike in new coronavirus infections.

"We have decided to shut the land border temporarily after an increase in the number of cases in our neighbour Iran," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

He added that air traffic would be unilaterally halted from 20:00 (1700GMT).

Also Pakistan has announced it is closing its border with neighbouring Iran after Tehran announced eight deaths from the coronavirus.

"We have closed our border with Iran because of the reports of coronavirus there," said Ayesha Zehri, a senior government official in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan's province, which borders Iran.

Afghanistan has also suspended air and ground travel to neighbouring Iran, where millions of Afghan refugees live, as fears grow across the region over a jump in new coronavirus infections.

"To prevent the spread of the novel #coronavirus and protect the public, Afghanistan suspends all passenger movement (air and ground) to and from Iran," the office of the National Security Council of Afghanistan said in a statement on Twitter.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the country will "suspend communication" with Iran for two weeks in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In a post on Facebook, Pashinyan said Armenia would close its border with Iran and halt air transport.

He added that Armenia's Coronavirus Prevention Commission would meet on Monday.

Iran has confirmed at least 15 new cases of the new coronavirus, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV, adding that the death toll has reached eight in the country.

"So far, we have 43 infected cases and the death toll is eight," said Kianush Jahanpur.

Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday accused foreign media of trying to use a deadly outbreak of coronavirus in Iran to "discourage" people from voting in a general election.

"This negative propaganda began a few months ago and grew larger approaching the election and in the past two days, under the pretext of an illness and a virus, their media did not miss the slightest opportunity to discourage people from voting," said Khamenei on his official website. "(Our enemies) are even opposed to any election by the Iranian people".


More: Iraq Extends Ban On Iran Arrivals Amid Coronavirus Fears

Source

Afghanistan bans travel to and from Iran

Armenia to 'suspend communication' with Iran for two weeks

Jordan bars entry to citizens from China, Iran, South Korea


Countries in Asian and middle east have reacted to the China's coronavirus outbreake in Iran by taken precautionary measures to contain further spread of the deadly mysterious virus in the region

Jordan has said it would bar citizens from China, Iran and South Korea from entering the kingdom in a bid to prevent the outbreak spreading. The minister of state for media affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of "preemptive measures ... following the rise in cases of coronavirus in South Korea, Iran" and China.

Turkey on Sunday announced it will "temporarily" close its land border with neighbouring Iran as alarm grows over a spike in new coronavirus infections.

"We have decided to shut the land border temporarily after an increase in the number of cases in our neighbour Iran," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

He added that air traffic would be unilaterally halted from 20:00 (1700GMT).

Also Pakistan has announced it is closing its border with neighbouring Iran after Tehran announced eight deaths from the coronavirus.

"We have closed our border with Iran because of the reports of coronavirus there," said Ayesha Zehri, a senior government official in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan's province, which borders Iran.

Afghanistan has also suspended air and ground travel to neighbouring Iran, where millions of Afghan refugees live, as fears grow across the region over a jump in new coronavirus infections.

"To prevent the spread of the novel #coronavirus and protect the public, Afghanistan suspends all passenger movement (air and ground) to and from Iran," the office of the National Security Council of Afghanistan said in a statement on Twitter.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the country will "suspend communication" with Iran for two weeks in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In a post on Facebook, Pashinyan said Armenia would close its border with Iran and halt air transport.

He added that Armenia's Coronavirus Prevention Commission would meet on Monday.

Iran has confirmed at least 15 new cases of the new coronavirus, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV, adding that the death toll has reached eight in the country.

"So far, we have 43 infected cases and the death toll is eight," said Kianush Jahanpur.

Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday accused foreign media of trying to use a deadly outbreak of coronavirus in Iran to "discourage" people from voting in a general election.

"This negative propaganda began a few months ago and grew larger approaching the election and in the past two days, under the pretext of an illness and a virus, their media did not miss the slightest opportunity to discourage people from voting," said Khamenei on his official website. "(Our enemies) are even opposed to any election by the Iranian people".


More: Iraq Extends Ban On Iran Arrivals Amid Coronavirus Fears

Source

IMF team agrees on $1.3 billion, 4-year aid package for Jordan

IMF team agrees on $1.3 billion, 4-year aid package for Jordan

WASHINGTON: Jordanian officials reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a $1.3 billion, four-year aid program to help authorities stabilize the economy, the IMF announced Thursday.

The loan, which must be approved by the board of the Washington-based crisis lender, will help the government bring down public debt and spending gradually while supporting economic growth, as the country hosts an influx of Syrian refugees the IMF said in a statement.

The aid program “will reinforce the authorities’ ambitious macroeconomic and structural reform agenda for the next four years,” IMF mission chief Chris Jarvis said.

The government program is focused on "enhancing the conditions for more inclusive economic growth, particularly in light of the challenges posed by ongoing regional conflict and uncertainty," he said.

That includes steps to reduce tax evasion and improve the investment climate, while boosting growth. Among the key reforms the government will reduce electricity prices for businesses and shift household subsidies to benefit "only to those who need it," Jarvis said.

"In addition, the authorities will introduce measures to help young people and women enter the labor force."

GDP growth is projected to reach 2.1 percent in 2020 and increase gradually in the coming years to 3.3 percent. Inflation will remain subdued in 2020, at under 1 percent, but is expected to rise 2.5 percent over the next few years, he said.

WASHINGTON: Jordanian officials reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a $1.3 billion, four-year aid program to help authorities stabilize the economy, the IMF announced Thursday.

The loan, which must be approved by the board of the Washington-based crisis lender, will help the government bring down public debt and spending gradually while supporting economic growth, as the country hosts an influx of Syrian refugees the IMF said in a statement.

The aid program “will reinforce the authorities’ ambitious macroeconomic and structural reform agenda for the next four years,” IMF mission chief Chris Jarvis said.

The government program is focused on "enhancing the conditions for more inclusive economic growth, particularly in light of the challenges posed by ongoing regional conflict and uncertainty," he said.

That includes steps to reduce tax evasion and improve the investment climate, while boosting growth. Among the key reforms the government will reduce electricity prices for businesses and shift household subsidies to benefit "only to those who need it," Jarvis said.

"In addition, the authorities will introduce measures to help young people and women enter the labor force."

GDP growth is projected to reach 2.1 percent in 2020 and increase gradually in the coming years to 3.3 percent. Inflation will remain subdued in 2020, at under 1 percent, but is expected to rise 2.5 percent over the next few years, he said.

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