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AMMAN — The government’s fuel pricing committee on Saturday decided to lower the prices of fuel derivatives for September.

According to the committee’s decision, the price of one litre of unleaded 90-octane gasoline will go down from JD0.775 per litre in August to JD0.755 in September, according to an Energy Ministry statement.

The price per litre of unleaded 95-octane gasoline will drop to JD0.985 in September, compared with JD1 the month before.

The prices of diesel and kerosene per litre will decrease to JD0.590, compared with JD0.605 in August.

Regarding the new prices, the committee said that the price per barrel of crude oil went down to $59 in August, from $64.1 in July.

The panel said the price of gas cylinders will remain unchanged at JD7 despite an increase in international rates to JD7.2.

The committee attributed its decision to not raise the price of gas cylinders to the government’s attempts to help mitigate the burdens of low-income citizens in light of the current economic situation.

Prices of oil derivatives in the local market are calculated based on international prices, plus other costs including shipping and taxes.

The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission on Saturday also decided to maintain the “differences in fuel prices” category on monthly electricity bills for September at 10 Fils per kilowatt-hour (kWh), according to a commission statement.

The “differences in fuel prices” category excludes households whose monthly consumption does not exceed 300kWh.

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Saturday said that it is gearing up for winter with drives of unclogging the drains and box culverts.

In a statement sent to The Jordan Times, Basem Tarawneh, deputy director for districts and environmental affairs at the GAM, said that the municipality has worked all summer to remove discarded plastic bags that choke storm drains. 

The municipality cadres have also cleaned the main culvert in downtown Amman’s Saqf Al Sail area from the end of Quraish Street to the exit in Mahatta area, removing silt from wadi streams, while also working on constructing concrete retaining walls. 

The GAM has also completed several tunnel and box culverts projects at different locations in Amman to resolve issues observed during previous winter seasons, according to the statement. 

The cadres are currently double-checking the preparedness of the water pumps of rainwater tanks installed inside tunnels, which they do at night in view of light traffic as well as to make sure water is pumped out properly. 

The GAM affirmed that follow-ups on these cleaning drives and checks are performed throughout the year in accordance with a programme made for this purpose, the statement concluded.

AMMAN — President of the Jordan Teachers Association (JTA) Ahmad Hajaya died on Friday afternoon after the vehicle he was in overturned on Jurf Al Darawish Street in eastern Tafileh, injuring three others, according to Tafileh's Civil Defence Department (CDD).

According to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, a source at the Tafileh CDD said that rescue and paramedic teams dealt with the accident that resulted in the death of Hajaya and the injury of his son and two other people.

The source noted that the injured were reported to be in fair condition.

CDD personnel administered first aid to the injured before transferring them, along with the body, to the Prince Zeid Military Hospital in Tafileh, some 180km southwest of Amman.

Education Minister Walid Maani and Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh mourned Hajaya's passing and expressed their deepest condolences to the former JTA president’s family.

Ahmad Samara Zu’bi, head of the Professional Association and President of the Jordanian Engineers Association, on Friday offered condolences over Hajaya's death and commended his efforts since he became JTA president in April, Petra added.

Jordan Press Association President Rakan Saaydeh, deputy president and members of the association council and the general assembly paid tribute to Hajaya and expressed their deepest sympathies to his family, the JTA and teachers in the Kingdom.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Friday expressed good wishes for Jordanians and the Arab and Islamic nations on the occasion of the Hijri New Year, paying tribute to the legacy of Prophet Mohammad’s migration.

In a post on Twitter celebrating the occasion, His Majesty King Abduallah wrote: "Honesty, patience, sincerity, determination, sacrifice and dignity are values we inspire by the memory of the migration of Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina. Through these great values, we all stand up for the sake of our home country of tolerance, modesty, dedicated work. Happy Hijri New Year to all mankind."

His Majesty has received cables of well wishes from several leaders of Arab and Muslim countries on the occasion of the New Hijri Year, according to a Royal Court statement.

King Abdullah also received cables from senior officials and officers in Jordan and representatives of civil society organisations.

HRH Crown Prince Hussein received similar cables on the occasion.

In the cables, officials said that Hijra, which marks the immigration of Prophet Mohammad to Medina Munawara from Mecca, was the start of a new phase in the history of the Islamic civilisation, based on the noble values of determination and righteousness.

They also praised His Majesty’s efforts to honour the values of Islam by instilling solidarity and cooperation among Jordanians, and highlighting the true image of Islam at various international forums as a religion rooted in moderation and tolerance.

On Saturday, Jordan, along with other Arab and Muslim countries, celebrated the Hijri New Year (1438).

The Islamic lunar year begins on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the calendar and one of four sacred months in Islam.

AMMAN — The Social Security Corporation (SSC) on Saturday urged subscribers covered by unemployment insurance to apply for disbursement of unemployment allowances in case their services were ended for any reason at their workplaces. 

The SSC specified that the insurance will only be available to unemployed people who have not yet found jobs at other places, as this type of insurance only provides temporary income to help the insured manage their livelihoods until they find a work opportunity. 

SSC Spokesperson Musa Sbeihi told The Jordan Times on Saturday that the number of those covered by unemployment insurance has reached 630,000, noting that the insurance does not cover employees of government departments and public institutions, members of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and other security bodies or the optional subscribers to the SSC.

Disbursement of unemployment allowances limits demand on early retirement, Sbeihi said in an SSC statement sent to The Jordan Times.

He stated that being able to spend while unemployed might motivate people to continue working by taking on another job to increase their subscription period and obtain a better pension.

Unemployment insurance in the Kingdom started in September of 2011, Sbeihi said, noting that more than 90,000 subscribers have benefitted from it so far, reimbursed with over JD77 million during their unemployment periods.

If the insured have been subscribed to the SCC for at least 36 months and are included in unemployment insurance in the last month before they left their most recent jobs, they will be able to benefit from unemployment insurance, the SCC spokesperson said.

He added that a certain percentage of the salaries are given to the insured during each month of unemployment, depending on their latest salary and subscription duration.

In the first month of unemployment, the insured receive 75 per cent of their latest salaries, with a cap of JD555. For example, if the latest salary for a given subscriber was JD1,000 he would only receive JD555 in the first month of unemployment, and a decreasing percentage each month, according to Sbeihi.

The insured can benefit from unemployment insurance three times during their subscription to the social security period, each time lasting a total of six months of unemployment.

As long as the insured benefit from the unemployment insurance, they are still considered to be under the umbrella of the SSC and are not cut off from their subscription, Sbeihi said.

"In 2018 alone, 20,000 subscribers covered by unemployment insurance benefitted from the fund, with a total of JD24 million provided," Sbeihi said in early August.

"Of course, those who do not need to use unemployment insurance at all or use only a little, and then retire and are not under the SCC law whatsoever — they will receive the total credit in their accounts as well as the investment revenues on that amount," Sbeihi said at the time.

He added that 1.5 per cent of an insured person's salary goes to an unemployment insurance subscription: 1 per cent from the employee and 0.5 per cent from the business owner.

AMMAN — The Jordan Press Association (JPA) on Friday condemned the Israeli attack against Journalist Ali Jadallah of the Turkish Anadolu Agency, who was shot by Israeli occupation forces while covering the weekly Return Marches at the Gaza border.

Majed Qaraan, head of the JPA’s Palestine Committee, said that the assault is part of the occupation’s crackdown on journalists. He urged the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2222 that guarantees the safety of journalists, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The results of Tawjihi’s (the general secondary education certificate examination) complementary session, announced on Saturday, witnessed an increase in the total pass rate to 60.2 per cent, according to the Education Ministry.

The ministry said that the pass rate of the complementary session alone stood at 53.4 per cent, noting that 92,450 students sat for the session, 49,410 of whom scored the minimum needed to pass, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The ministry added that 36,424 students sat for the complementary examination to increase their average, 28,474 of whom met the score while 56,026 students sat to complete their success requirements, 12,986 of whom did so. 

AMMAN — A driver who allegedly ran over two tourists in Wadi Rum has turned himself in.

In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, on Saturday, the Public Security Department’s spokesperson said that badia police received a report on August 25 about the incident, after which the victims were rushed to hospital where they were reported to be in fair condition.

He added that the driver immediately turned himself in and that the case has been referred to judicial authorities.

AMMAN — A security taskforce has carried out a raid in Rashidiya area, located some 30km from the city of Aqaba, which resulted in the killing of two wanted suspects after applying the rules of engagement, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported, citing a security source as saying on Friday.

One of the suspects was sentenced to death in absentia while the other was wanted for various crimes, Petra reported. The two refused to conform to the taskforce’s command to surrender and started to shoot at the personnel.

The two were found dead after the shoot-out while their two accomplices were injured, Petra reported. One of the deceased was involved in the murder of an Anti-Narcotics Department member in 2015, Petra reported.

AMMAN — Saturday marked the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Rania, rounding off another year spent working alongside His Majesty King Abdullah in the service of the Jordanian people, and contributing toward his vision for a thriving kingdom. 

Over the last two decades, Her Majesty has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to education, stemming from her belief that universal access to quality education is a cornerstone to achieving social justice. The Queen has launched a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing education in Jordan and across the region, with a particular focus on teacher training and tech-based teaching methods, according to a statement from Her Majesty’s office.

Queen Rania’s passion for education is channelled largely into her work with the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development, a leading regional resource and incubator for innovative ideas in the field. The foundation strives to improve the quality of education and learning outcomes through several programmes, at the forefront of which is its open online learning platform, Edraak, which has reached more than 2.3 million learners to date. 

Following Edraak’s successful launch as an adult learning platform in 2014, Her Majesty began cultivating relationships with international organisations, seeking partners who could help her realise her ambition of expanding the platform to meet the needs of the region’s youth. 

In collaboration with Google’s humanitarian arm, Google.org, and with the support of the Jack Ma Foundation, Edraak launched its new K to 12 platform in 2016, and began rolling out online curricula earlier this year. The platform makes free, high-quality education accessible to millions of children across the region, including those who are out of school due to conflict or displacement.

Her Majesty’s many other efforts to advance education include the establishment of the Queen Rania Teacher Academy in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Teachers College of Columbia University. Through its pioneering pre-service diplomas, the academy equips educators with the skills they need to navigate the educational environment. 

The Queen is also the founder of the non-profit Al Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans, which provides adult orphans with opportunities to obtain higher education or vocational training.

Her Majesty travels extensively across Jordan’s governorates, making regular field visits to the nation’s cities and villages to spend time with Jordanians from all walks of life. She is a strong supporter of entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly among the nation’s young men and women, often extending her support to ambitious youth and helping them unleash creative solutions for the world’s challenges.

Queen Rania also continues to support Amman Design Week (ADW), a citywide event aiming to establish Amman as a regional hub for innovation and experimentation by showcasing the  talents of local, regional and international designers. In addition to promoting design thinking and knowledge exchange, ADW also empowers designers and craftspeople year-round through learning programmes, direct mentorship and personalised guidance.

Furthermore, the Queen was one of the first public figures in the region to speak out against the scourge of child abuse. Through the Jordan River Foundation (JRF), a non-profit founded by Her Majesty to promote child safety and community empowerment, she oversaw the establishment of the JRF Child Safety Programme as well as Dar Al Aman, the region’s first-of-its-kind child safety centre for victims of abuse. 

An active humanitarian, Queen Rania is a passionate advocate for refugees around the world. She consistently extends her support and solidarity to children and families displaced by war and persecution, and has visited refugee camps in Jordan, Greece and Bangladesh.

At the global level, Her Majesty has been recognised repeatedly for her efforts to shed light on the plight of the world’s refugees, improve children’s access to education and promote acceptance between people of all cultures. The Queen also serves as a member on the United Nations Foundation and the World Economic Forum’s board of directors and the International Rescue Committee’s board of overseers.