Local

AMMAN — One woman died and nine others were injured when their vehicle overturned in Ghor Safi on Saturday, according to the director of Ghor Safi Hospital, Mahmoud Oneh.

Also on Saturday, 10 people were injured in a car accident that involved a pickup truck and a minivan near Al Salmani Gas Station in Karak.

The Civil Defence Department said its personnel administered first aid to the injured before transporting them to Al Safi Public Hospital.

One of the injured was listed in critical condition, while the rest were reported to be in fair condition.

AMMAN — The results of the General Secondary Certificate Examination’s (Tawjihi) winter session will be released on February 17 or 18, a source in the Education Ministry said on Saturday.

The source noted that the marks are currently being calculated, reviewed and digitised.

AJLOUN — Spreading a culture of democracy is key to empowering all segments of society, Minister of Parliamentary and Political Affairs Khaled Kalaldeh said on Saturday.

Speaking at a meeting held by the Ajloun youth directorate at a youth centre in Kufranjah, Kalaldeh added that the ministry is keen on building a strong partnership with political parties and other civil community institutions to broaden public participation in decision making.

“We count on the different community sectors to join parties and participate in parliamentary and municipal elections, because the more people vote, the more accurate the results are in representing citizens,” he said.

AMMAN — Jordan on Friday denounced the Israeli occupation troops’ entry into Al Aqsa Mosque on Friday.

Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani stressed Jordan’s rejection of any form of aggression against Al Aqsa Mosque and against the freedom of worship.

Momani criticised the Israeli occupation troops for randomly shooting rubber bullets at worshippers, including the elderly, women and children, which led to violent confrontations at Al Aqsa Mosque and a great deal of damage and destruction to the compound’s gates for the second time since the beginning of this year.

Israeli forces raided the mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, from the Bab Al Magharbeh entrance and clashed with Palestinian worshippers on Friday.

AMMAN — Newly appointed Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Sami Bin Abdullah Al Saleh on Saturday described the relationship between Jordan and Saudi Arabia as “historical”, voicing his commitment to enhancing economic, social and political cooperation.

He underlined the need to activate the work of the Jordanian-Saudi committee to examine new cooperation opportunities.

AMMAN — Around 1.7 million students will head back to school on Sunday for the second semester of the scholastic year.

Minister of Education Mohammad Thneibat said the ministry has taken necessary measures for the new term, calling on schools to provide students with a “sound” educational environment and consider parents’ economic situation when it comes to buying stationery and sports clothes.

AMMAN — Former minister Abdul Salam Kanaan passed away on Saturday.

Born in 1931, Kanaan served as a minister of social development in the government of Ahmad Obeidat in 1984 and was supply minister and minister of state for prime ministry affairs in the government of Zeid Rifai (1988-1989).

Kanaan had a master’s degree in education from the US.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour paid tribute to Kanaan in a statement issued on Saturday.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Saturday highlighted the strong relations between Jordan and Spain, emphasising the Kingdom’s desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

During a meeting with chairman of the foreign affairs commission of the Spanish parliament, Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida, the premier commended Spain’s position on Arab causes, noting that the European country has always been among those calling for a just solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Ensour stressed Jordan’s support for the efforts exerted by US Secretary of State John Kerry to achieve real progress in the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations to arrive at a just solution for the Palestinian issue.

TUNIS — Senate President Abdur-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh on Saturday met with President of the Tunisian National Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar and discussed bilateral ties and prospects for further cooperation, in addition to issues of mutual concern.

Rawabdeh also held talks with the leaders of a number of delegations taking part in celebrations marking the endorsement of the new Tunisian constitution.

The Senate president attended the celebrations on behalf of His Majesty King Abdullah, who received an invitation

from Tunisian President Moncef  Marzouki.