Day: April 8, 2025

Khan Younis: Six Palestinians, including three children, were killed and 12 others wounded on Tuesday evening after Israeli airstrikes targeted tents sheltering displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to Jordan News Agency, another Palestinian was killed in a separate Israeli strike that hit the Al-Tawba prayer area in the town of Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis.

Amman: The University of Jordan on Tuesday launched its International Scientific Days, organized by the School of Sport Science under the theme “Latest Scientific Developments in Competitive and Health Sports.” The event is held under the patronage of University President Nathir Obeidat, with participation from researchers and experts in the sports sector representing 20 countries from across the region and the world.

According to Jordan News Agency, the two-day forum serves as a global platform bringing together academics, decision-makers, athletes, and postgraduate students to discuss key scientific issues, cutting-edge research in health and competitive sports, and the role of sports in sustainable development. It also aims to foster a culture of sports among youth, enhance their knowledge and skills, and explore the broader impact of sports on society.

The event seeks to engage students in scientific discourse, empower them to contribute through research that supports athletic performance, promote a sports culture, strengthen international academic cooperation, and create opportunities for joint research projects. “Sport should be a bridge-builder, tearing down all forms of racism, greed, arrogance, and selfishness. It should inspire creativity and reflect beauty,” Obeidat said in his opening remarks.

He stressed the need for continued hard work and achievement, highlighting that retreating from progress would come at a cost to the national economy, which is already facing significant challenges. Obeidat called on academic staff to embrace innovation and incorporate artificial intelligence into curricula, training, and sports education. “Sport sciences today are not what they once were if we don’t evolve, others will outpace us,” he added, emphasizing the need to prepare future educators with advanced and useful knowledge.

Hassan Saud, Dean of the School of Sport Science, reaffirmed the university’s strong commitment to developing the sports sector, highlighting the faculty’s mission to equip Jordanian youth with both theoretical and practical expertise to promote physical and mental well-being. He noted the school’s academic expansion to meet labor market needs, including the introduction of a master’s program in movement sciences and training and postgraduate diplomas in physical preparation and sports nutrition. Plans are underway to expand the PhD program to include four tracks: sports management, athletic training, coaching and teaching, and applied sports psychology.

Saud also pointed out the school’s leap in the QS global rankings, moving up from 335th to 230th in 2023-2024, with hopes of entering the top 150 globally in 2024-2025. Adam Amawi, assistant dean for quality assurance, accreditation, global rankings, and career readiness, said the conference features rich lectures covering cutting-edge topics delivered by leading researchers and sports experts, including representatives from the Jordan Olympic Committee.

Topics include stem cell therapy post-high-intensity exercise, optimal nutrition systems for peak performance, sleep disorders among athletes, and the role of artificial intelligence in digital education and research. The event also explores social and humanitarian issues in sport, such as the link between sport and the economy, sports as a source of hope for people with disabilities, and the state of sports arbitration under Jordanian law.

Distinguished keynote speakers from around the world are taking part, including Prof. Hua-Chia Kuo from Taiwan, who will address the role of bone marrow in physical adaptation and endurance fitness; Prof. Noirez Philippe from France, who will discuss clean air, sleep quality, and physical activity in aging; and Dr. Khaled Tarabulsi from Tunisia, who will explore the challenges of training during fasting and the impact of Ramadan on athletic performance.

The opening session was attended by university vice presidents, faculty deans, staff, and students, as well as representatives of the sports sector. Notable guests included former Deputy Prime Minister Jamal Sarairah, who chairs the Board of Trustees of the Sports Culture Association, and former Iraqi Minister of Education Suha Al-Khalil. The event featured a video presentation introducing the Faculty of Sport Sciences as a hub for athletic excellence and innovation.

Amman: Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah met Tuesday with a delegation from the City of Munich to discuss developmental plans and programs being implemented by the ministry, particularly in the area of vocational education, which has received royal attention.

According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting was attended by the Mayor of West Irbid, Jamal Bataineh, where Mahafzah emphasized the strong cooperative ties between the two friendly nations and ways to further enhance and develop these relations across all sectors, especially in the field of education. He explained that the ministry has signed an agreement with Pearson to implement the BTEC program in its vocational schools, aligning with the needs of the local, regional, and global job markets for skilled and qualified labor.

Bataineh noted that the visit of the Munich delegation aims to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two municipalities. The two sides agreed to launch a collaborative project between the vocational schools in both cities to promote the exchange of expertise and the development of teaching and vocational competencies. He added that the cooperation would involve organizing a series of training and consultative workshops at Zarnooji and Khadijah Umm Al-Mu’mineen schools, both part of the Irbid Education Directorate, to support the project’s objectives.

The Munich delegation expressed their satisfaction with the meeting, which allowed them to learn about Jordan’s vocational education experience and the opportunities for exchanging expertise in this field. The delegation included Sandra Spottl, Head of International Relations at the Munich Municipality, and Project Coordinator Philipp Bollmann.

The Hague: The Dutch government announced on Tuesday that it had summoned the Israeli ambassador in response to the ongoing aggression in Gaza.

According to Jordan News Agency, the government stated that Foreign Minister Kasper Veldkamp had called in the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands due to the continuing escalation in Gaza. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday.

On Monday, the Dutch government also announced an escalation of restrictions on the export of military products and dual-use goods to Israel.

Amman: His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday welcomed Patriarch Youssef Absi, the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, to discuss the protection of Christian communities in the Middle East. The meeting, also attended by Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, focused on the importance of safeguarding the rights of all societal components in Syria.

According to Jordan News Agency, King Abdullah II reiterated Jordan’s commitment to supporting Syria in maintaining its security and stability. He emphasized the significance of the Hashemite Custodianship over both Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, underlining Jordan’s dedication to standing by Palestinians and protecting Eastern Christian communities and their sacred places.

Patriarch Absi acknowledged Jordan as a model for coexistence and respect for Christian communities, highlighting His Majesty’s initiatives such as the Amman Message, “A Common Word”, and World Interfaith Harmony Week, which promote interfaith dialogue and understanding. The meeting also included Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh and leaders of the Melkite Greek Catholic churches from Jordan, Jerusalem, and Lebanon.

Jerusalem: The Ministry of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs strongly condemned Israel’s closure orders targeting six schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the refugee camps of Shu’afat, Silwan, Wadi Al-Joz, and Sur Baher in Jerusalem.

According to Jordan News Agency, the ministry described these actions as a flagrant violation of international law and a clear infringement on the privileges and immunities of the United Nations.

In a statement, ministry spokesperson Sufyan Qudah reaffirmed Jordan’s absolute rejection and condemnation of the decision to close the schools, which will prevent approximately 800 students from completing their academic year. He also described this action as part of a broader, systematic Israeli campaign targeting UNRWA’s operations in occupied Jerusalem.

Qudah noted that the agency is being subjected to a political assassination aimed at undermining its role, which affirms the right of Palestinian refugees to return and receive compensation under international law.

He emphasized the ongoing denial of essential rights and services for the Palestinian people, as recognized by the international community and relevant UN resolutions, particularly amid the resumption of Israeli aggression on Gaza and the closure of crossings meant for delivering humanitarian aid to the enclave.

He warned of the catastrophic consequences of Israel’s illegal measures against UNRWA and its vital services, which cannot be replaced or substituted.

Qudah called on the international community to bear its legal and moral responsibilities, stand against Israeli actions targeting UNRWA, and provide the necessary political and financial support to enable the agency to continue its essential services for Palestinian refugees in its five operational areas as mandated by the UN.