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RAMALLAH — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday met with a Jordanian delegation headed by MP JamilNimri.

Abbas briefed the delegates on the latest developments in the peace process and the difficulties hindering its progress due to Israeli “intransigence”.

He commended Jordan’s efforts to support Palestinians in all areas.

AMMAN — The newly renovated Jordanian Association for Family Planning and Protection clinic in Jabal Hussein officially opened on Wednesday with a community fair.

Social Development Ministry Secretary General Omar Hamzeh and USAID Acting Deputy Mission Director Rhonda Shire attended the opening ceremony, a USAID statement said.

The clinic, with its all-female staff, specialises in family planning, reproductive health and antenatal services for women.

The clinic averages nearly 750 visits each month.

USAID contributed nearly JD 223,500 to the clinic for renovations and the installation of new medical equipment, according to the statement.

AMMAN — The Income and Sales Tax Department (ISTD) on Wednesday finished the disbursement of the first tranche of fuel compensation for 2014.

ISTD Media Spokesperson MousaTarawneh said 930,000 heads of families from the public and private sectors applied for the compensation, 750,000 of whom were eligible.

The total amount disbursed reached around JD88 million, with an average of JD95 for each family.

AMMAN — The Social Security Corporation (SSC) launched its upgraded website (www.ssc.gov.jo) on the occasion of Labour Day, according to an SSC statement.

The new website offers information that concerns the community in general, and subscribers and employers in particular, such as all social security regulations, a brief on the SSC and its organisational structure.

AMMAN — Military attachés of Arab and foreign countries visited the site of the 10th Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX 2014) on Wednesday and were briefed on the Jordan Armed Forces’ preparations for the event.

 Some 35 countries and 362 international companies will take part in the three-day event next, according to SOFEX Director General AmerTabaa.

AMMAN — Minister of Health Ali Hiasat on Wednesday paid an unannounced visit to Princess Salma Hospital in the Theeban District and checked on its services.

Hiasat noted that the ministry has recently appointed 700 doctors and 1,500 nurses to ensure quality services.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday, approved the formation of a board of commissioners for the newly established Energy and Mineral Resources Regulatory Commission.

The Council of Ministers named Farouq Hiyari as chairman, Mousa Zyoud as deputy chairman, and Majd Hawari, Wijdan Rabadi and Bashir Srour as commissioners.

The Cabinet also approved the appointments of Ghaleb Maabreh as secretary general of the Energy Ministry and Abdulfattah Daradkah as director general of the National Electric Power Company.

AMMAN — Deputising for Her Majesty Queen Rania, Awqaf Minister HayelDawood attended the launch of the ninth International Hashemite Competition for Girls’ Koran Memorisation.

The launch, held at the King Abdullah I Mosque, was attended by ambassadors of 35 Arab and Muslim countries taking part in the competition.

The five-day contest includes five levels.

GAZA — A seven-truck convoy laden with medical supplies, medicine and humanitarian aid for Jordan’s field hospital in Gaza arrived in the coastal enclave on Wednesday through the BeitHanoun border crossing.

FouadBattah, director of “Gaza 29”, said the aid was sent upon Royal directives, noting that over 1.232 million Gazans have benefited from the field hospital’s services since its deployment in January 2009.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday endorsed a strategy prepared by the Foreign Ministry to enhance contacts with Jordanian expatriates.

Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh briefed the Cabinet on the importance of this plan in serving and protecting expatriates’ interests, improving their connection with their country and adopting initiatives aimed at enhancing their contribution to the comprehensive development process.

For this purpose, the ministry will create a department for expatriate affairs, and divisions to deal with them as part of Jordanian diplomatic missions abroad, in addition to establishing a database for expatriates on the ministry’s website.