Day: May 11, 2025

Amman: The Jordan Marathon Association (Run Jordan) has announced the opening of registration for the fourth edition of the Bromine Women’s Race, scheduled to take place on Friday, May 30, at Al Hussein Public Parks.

According to Jordan News Agency, the event is held under the slogan “Run for You” and is sponsored by Jordan Bromine Company as the main partner. It is organized in cooperation with the Greater Amman Municipality and several private-sector supporters.

Women interested in participating can register online through the association’s official website, www.RunJordan.com, or by visiting the association’s headquarters in Shmeisani. Registration will remain open until Thursday, May 29. This year’s race includes two distance categories, 2.6 kilometers and 5.2 kilometers, and is set to begin at 9:00 a.m.

Run Jordan stated that the event is part of its broader mission to provide a safe and inclusive sports platform for women, aimed at encouraging healthy living and greater community engagement. “The Women’s Race represents our commitment to empowering women through sport,” said Lina Kurdi, Director General of Run Jordan. “It serves as an inspiring space to highlight women’s achievements and reinforces their visibility in the local sports scene. The event also promotes both physical and mental well-being among women.”

Kurdi also expressed appreciation for the continued support of Jordan Bromine Company, the Greater Amman Municipality, and all volunteering partners, noting that such collaboration has played a vital role in establishing the Bromine Women’s Race as a prominent fixture on Jordan’s sporting calendar.

Amman: Jordan imported around 480,000 mobile phones worth JD44 million in the first third of 2025, marking a decline from the 628,000 devices valued at JD51 million imported during the same period last year.

According to Jordan News Agency, the Vision Association for Mobile Phones and Accessories Investors noted on Sunday that imports also fell short of 2023’s figure of approximately 521,000 devices worth JD53 million. The Association’s Chairman Ahmed Alloush attributed the trend to a wider variety of brands and technical specifications in the Jordanian market, offering consumers more choices across different price segments.

He added that this local trend aligns with global patterns, as the international smartphone market saw a marked slowdown in early 2025, with only 0.2 percent growth and total shipments of 296.9 million units.

Gaza: The Ministry of Health in Gaza warned on Sunday of a rapidly worsening shortage in medical supplies, with critical sectors of the healthcare system on the brink of collapse.

According to Jordan News Agency, in a press statement, the ministry reported that 43 percent of essential medicines are completely out of stock, marking an increase of 6 percent compared to the previous month. Additionally, 64 percent of medical consumables are no longer available.

Healthcare facilities, including emergency departments, operating rooms, and intensive care units, are operating under severe constraints due to depleted inventories and a growing number of critical patients.

The ministry highlighted that individuals suffering from kidney failure, cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and other non-communicable diseases are disproportionately affected.

The ministry reiterated its warning that continued restrictions on the entry of urgent medical supplies could soon bring healthcare services to a halt.

Aqaba: Director of the Aqaba Marine Reserve, Nasser Zawaideh, announced the completion of the first phase of the reserve’s nomination file for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, following a successful technical assessment. This milestone highlights the site’s exceptional environmental importance.

According to Jordan News Agency, the announcement was made during a meeting chaired by Nayef Fayez, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority. Zawaideh detailed a strategic partnership with the Red Sea Transboundary Center aimed at developing advanced coral reef monitoring tools, including artificial intelligence-enabled 3D imaging and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. These innovations are set to enhance scientific understanding of the marine ecosystem.

The reserve is making significant progress in preserving the Gulf of Aqaba’s rich biodiversity, with a series of scientific and field achievements that reinforce its status as a national and international model of environmental management. Zawaideh noted that the second phase of the coral reef cultivation project is underway, involving new nurseries and artificial reefs in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme to support marine biodiversity.

Infrastructure improvements are also underway, including upgrades to the visitor center and beach facilities, new modern gates, an accessible walkway on Azraq Beach, and renovations to reception halls. Environmental and touristic appeal is further enhanced by the planting of 160 palm trees on Palm Beach.

In marine conservation, the reserve has extended its seasonal fishing ban during the spawning period of endemic species for the third consecutive time, from January 1 to April 30, 2025. This measure aligns with the 2020 Fishing and Aquatic Life Regulations and includes financial compensation for licensed fishermen.

The reserve continues daily ecosystem monitoring, with approximately 80 seabed cleanup campaigns conducted in the central beach area. The noticeable decline in waste collected reflects successful environmental awareness and monitoring initiatives, in collaboration with the Royal Department for Environmental Protection.

Educational efforts include the launch of the second phase of the Marine Environment Protection School Clubs program, themed “Know Your Reserve,” broadcast content on Sawt Aqaba Radio, and digital awareness materials. The “Coral Voices” program, an artistic platform, showcased 92 artworks in exhibitions and engaged 500 participants in awareness activities.

Azraq Beach’s Blue Flag certification for 2025 underscores its adherence to international environmental standards. Future plans include a comprehensive marine zoning strategy, enhanced beach infrastructure, and continued coral reef farming with local and international partners.

Zawaideh expressed that these achievements highlight the reserve’s dedication to environmental sustainability and strengthen Aqaba’s position as a leading ecotourism destination regionally and internationally.

Vienna: A team of medical students from Hashemite University (HU) has earned international recognition after their research was ranked among the top 5 percent of 3,452 submissions at the Congress of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 2025, currently underway in Vienna, Austria.

According to Jordan News Agency, the university announced that the study, titled “The Role of Radiotherapy in Advanced Stages of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma,” was supervised by Dr. Ahmed Al-Salem and prepared by ten students: Ahmed Masoud, Mohammed Al-Sheikh, Jinan Al-Fayoumi, Fatoun Abu Badr, Zaid Daboubi, Abdul Momen Hassan, Salah Ibrahim, Rama Al-Khatib, Rania Al-Sallal, and Lujain Aleimat.

President of ESTRO 2025, Professor Matthias Guckenberger, praised the study for its rigorous methodology and scientific value, describing it as a significant contribution to the field during the official recognition ceremony.

The research focuses on evaluating the role of radiotherapy in improving survival rates for patients with advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma, particularly those with large tumors. The team is conducting a systematic review and detailed analysis of recent studies and scientific evidence to support their findings.

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at HU, Mohammed Qudah, commended the students’ achievement and reaffirmed the college’s commitment to fostering research excellence and encouraging participation in global academic events.

Tbilisi: Jordan’s national Paralympic weightlifting team secured two gold medals at the World Cup held in Tbilisi, Georgia, highlighting the athletes’ continued excellence on the international stage.

According to Jordan News Agency, Paralympic champion Omar Qaradah clinched gold in the 49 kg weight class after successfully lifting 165 kg. Rising talent Mohammed Obaidi followed with another gold in the 54 kg category, lifting 170 kg.

The victories mark a significant achievement for Jordanian Paralympic sports, reflecting the athletes’ dedication and the support of the national training programs.