Ireland, Jordan call for recognition of Palestinian state, de-escalation in Middle East

Ireland's Foreign Minister Micheal Martin met with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in Jordan's capital Amman on Wednesday, calling for more efforts to formally recognize the Palestinian state and avoid a further escalation of the situation in the Middle East.

Both sides stressed the importance of pushing for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible in order to alleviate the worsening humanitarian disaster in the war-torn region.

Regarding the recent tensions between Iran and Israel, the two sides warned of the serious risks of a spillover of the war in Gaza and a potential escalation across the Middle East which threatens the security and stability of the wider region.

At a joint press conference, the visiting Irish minister said that Ireland, like Jordan, is committed to promoting a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue. He added that Ireland and some European countries are working to take actions to recognize the Palestinian state.

"Ireland and Spain and Slovenia and others are working together in terms of like-minded EU member states around the question of the recognition of Palestine," said Martin.

Last Thursday, the United States voted against a Palestinian request for full UN membership at the Security Council, vetoing a resolution recommending that the General Assembly admit Palestine to the United Nations. The UK and Switzerland abstained while the remaining 12 members of the Security Council voted in favor.

At the press conference in Amman, Martin noted that there should be a further forthcoming vote at the UN which could provide a second chance for the Palestinian state to get recognized, and said Ireland is willing to play a role in promoting peace.

Safadi also drew attention to the ongoing conflict and said the number of Palestinian detainees is now "the highest in history" as Israel has arrested more than 3,500 Palestinian citizens since the situation erupted last October.

He stressed that these actions risk escalating conditions in Gaza and the West Bank.

Safadi also appreciated Ireland's continuous support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), saying "Ireland provided additional support of around 20 million U.S. dollars to UNRWA in the past months, continuing its policy that has always been supportive of the agency."

The Jordanian minister stressed the importance of confronting Israel's attempts to liquidate the agency, pointing out that withholding funds and aid from UNRWA deprives thousands of Palestinians of their livelihoods and puts hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who depend on it at risk.

Earlier this month, Ireland said it stands ready to recognize the Palestinian state. In addition, Martin previously said he was "not satisfied" that calls from Ireland and Spain in February for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement did not receive the attention they deserved, highlighting the differences amongst EU countries on finding a resolution to the Gaza conflict.

Jordan has long been committed to promoting a ceasefire in Gaza and a long-term political solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, adopting a similar stance with several European countries including Ireland.

Ireland, Jordan call for recognition of Palestinian state, de-escalation in Middle East

China will establish a tiered AI education system spanning primary, junior high, and senior high schools to guide students from foundational cognitive awareness to practical technological innovation, according to policy documents unveiled Monday.

At the primary school level, the Ministry of Education (MOE) prioritizes AI literacy through exposure to basic technologies, such as voice recognition and image classification.

Building on this foundation, junior high school students will deepen their understanding of AI logic, examine machine learning processes, and develop critical thinking to identify misinformation in generative AI outputs.

Progressing to senior secondary education, the focus shifts toward applied innovation. Students will use accumulated AI knowledge to design and refine AI algorithm models, while cultivating interdisciplinary systems thinking.

To achieve the goals, the MOE will integrate AI-enabled teaching competencies into the teacher training framework. Additionally, it mandates schools to develop age-appropriate curricula with tiered instructional practices that align with cognitive development stages.

Notably, the MOE underscores generative AI's pedagogical potential. "Teachers can empower generative AI tools to construct interactive teaching and create immersive learning experiences," said an official overseeing basic education.

The official also called for strengthening students' logical and innovative thinking through generative AI-powered interactive learning ecosystems.

Meanwhile, the MOE prohibits students from submitting AI-generated content as academic work or examination responses. Simultaneously, it demands that teachers cultivate learners' capacity for critical thinking of AI outputs, thereby fostering authentic engagement in information processing.

China advances AI curriculum to cover full basic education