Day: April 26, 2025

Amman: The weather on Saturday will be fair across the Kingdom’s regions, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD). The department said temperatures will rise slightly on Sunday, and the weather will be substantially similar to the earlier day.

According to Jordan News Agency, on Monday, the weather will be moderate in most areas and relatively hot in the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and Aqaba. The JMD forecast possible light rain showers in the evening in the eastern regions. Winds will be northwesterly and active, stirring dust in the Badia region, which would reduce horizontal visibility.

Also today, temperatures in the capital Amman will hit a high of 24 degrees Celsius and a low of 10C, while the port city of Aqaba will see 31C during the day, sliding to 19C at night.

Amman: Chairman of Jordan-Europe Business Association (JEBA) Ali Murad said Jordan’s economic cooperation with European Union countries constitutes an important strategic pillar that enhances growth of the national economy and supports the Kingdom’s sustainable development.

According to Jordan News Agency, Murad noted that the European market represents a strong opportunity to expand and diversify the Kingdom’s exports, with a focus on value-added industries and modern technologies. On future prospects, Murad indicated that Jordan enjoys extensive opportunities to enhance its exports to European Union markets, particularly in the industrial and agricultural sectors.

Murad added that the Jordan-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which was signed last January, represents a qualitative shift in bilateral relations and establishes a new phase of economic and development cooperation. The agreement, he noted, provides a pound 3 billion financial aid package for the years 2025-2027, including grants, investments, and macroeconomic support, reflecting the European Union’s commitment to supporting Jordan as a strategic partner in the region.

Joint trade agreements provide duty-free access to most Jordanian products, particularly agricultural exports, which have been exempt from duties and quantitative quotas since 2006, with special arrangements for some items, mainly olive oil and strawberries, he pointed out. At the end of January 2025, His Majesty King Abdullah II and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended the signing ceremony of the Jordan-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in Brussels.

To support achievement of the agreement’s objectives, the European Union announced a pound 3 billion financial aid package for Jordan for the years 2025-2027, including pound 640 million in grants, pound 1.4 billion in investments, and approximately pound 1 billion in macroeconomic support.

Amman: The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) is scheduled to host the regional event, themed: “Accessible Arab Region: ICT for ALL” next Tuesday.

According to Jordan News Agency, the conference is held in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with significant Arab and regional participation.

TRC Chairman, Bassam Sarhan, said the event affirms Jordan’s position as an active regional hub, which supports digital and development initiatives in the Arab world. This Jordanian effort was reflected in the recommendations of the Council of Arab Ministers of Telecommunications and Information Technology following the conclusion of the 28th session in Cairo, which announced Amman as the Arab Digital Capital for 2025, he pointed out.

Sarhan added that the scale of participation in the event reflects the TRC’s role in leading the regional dialogue on issues of promoting digital access and inclusion. Additionally, he noted that the presence shows the TRC’s commitment to coordinating with relevant international and regional entities to exchange expertise and transfer knowledge, which contributes to achieving policy development and a comprehensive digital transformation that serves all segments of society.

Sarhan stated the event is an opportunity to highlight and share Jordanian expertise across all sectors with all specialized international entities. The two-day dialogues will discuss digital inclusion policies and strategies, aimed to enhance digital accessibility in the telecommunications sector as a prerequisite for achieving inclusion for all members of the digital system, the statement said.

Vatican City: Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah are due today to attend the funeral of Pope Francis at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

According to Jordan News Agency, the royal couple’s presence at the funeral signifies the strong ties and mutual respect between Jordan and the Vatican. The attendance of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania highlights the importance of the relationship between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Catholic Church.

The funeral of Pope Francis is expected to draw numerous dignitaries and religious leaders from around the world, emphasizing the global impact and influence the Pope had during his tenure. The event will be a significant moment for attendees, reflecting on the legacy and contributions of Pope Francis to the global community.

Amman: Dialogue Journalism Fellowship 2025 conference has kicked off, organized by Hayat Centre for Civil Society Development (Rased), in cooperation with the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID). In his opening remarks, Minister of Government Communication and Government Spokesperson, Dr. Mohammad Momani, highlighted the presence of threats such as hate speech, misinformation, extremism, radicalism, and populist rhetoric, emphasizing the need for a conscious and courageous media.

According to Jordan News Agency, Momani noted that in the current age of open space, confronting terrorism is not solely a security concern but also a media issue. He stressed that information can bring justice, while false news can ignite strife, indicating that responsible media restores balance to the public sphere and promotes dialogue. Momani remarked that hate speech and extremism have no place in Jordan, a nation founded on pluralism, tolerance, coexistence, and acceptance.

Momani advocated for the integration of dialogue in media work to strengthen reliance on information and pledged a united stance against threats to Jordan’s intellectual and societal security. He expressed that dialogue is a moral, national, and professional necessity, essential for societal peace, and is part of Jordan’s national and societal security equation. The minister also called for investment in media and information literacy to prepare future generations to expose misinformation and defend the truth.

He acknowledged the complex international and regional reality, where the line between truth and falsehood has blurred, and words can be weaponized for either construction or destruction. Addressing media professionals present, Momani urged them to build a culture of dialogue and resist engaging in hate speech. He hoped the event would foster interaction and build professional networks based on the belief that words should serve as bridges.

Meanwhile, Rased Director, Dr. Amer Bani Amer, acknowledged the challenging regional circumstances and the unpredictability of developments. He stressed the need for disciplined media that rejects hate speech and violence. The conference aims to present Jordan as a model of national unity to its Arab neighbors and peace-loving individuals globally.

KAICIID’s Director of Arab Region Programs, Wassim Haddad, stated that this event marks a new phase of learning, knowledge dissemination, and experience exchange among 23 journalists from 13 Arab countries. The goal is to promote dialogue and coexistence, build safe and stable Arab societies, and enhance peace, recognizing the strategic role of media in boosting dialogue and peacebuilding.

Gaza: Gaza hospitals received 56 dead bodies and 108 injured people in the last 24 hours in the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Saturday.

According to Jordan News Agency, this latest update brings the total death toll from the conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, to 51,495. The number of injured individuals has reached 117,524. Since the end of a ceasefire on March 18, 2,111 people have been killed and 5,483 injured. The ministry also noted that many victims remain under the rubble and in areas that ambulances cannot access.