Day: September 8, 2024

9:00. Council of Ministers holds a session at the Grand Serail to discuss a range of topics outlined in an agenda distributed to ministers. Among the key items is a presentation by the Minister of Finance on the 2025 draft budget, which was circulated on August 30, 2024.

The session will reconvene at 3:30 p.m. to continue discussions on the 2025 budget law proposal.

11:00 Contractual teachers hold press conference

Source: National news agency – Lebanon

Ramallah – Ma’an – The Council of Presidents of Palestinian Universities held its meeting today at the headquarters of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, via video conference, with the presidents of the universities in the Gaza Strip, headed by Minister Dr. Amjad Barham. The council discussed a number of issues related to the higher education sector and improving its outputs.

The Council discussed the relief efforts of higher education in the Gaza Strip, where Minister Barham touched on the Ministry’s efforts to revive the educational process in Gaza, despite the genocidal war that the occupation has been waging for many months, stressing the need to work in a team spirit with the institutions supporting education relief in Gaza, praising the steadfastness and determination of the higher education institutions in the Strip to continue working and succeeding despite all the circumstances.

Barham touched on the ministry’s efforts and movements to secure support for Gaza’s universities and student
s, noting that the ministry received positive responses regarding support for the higher education sector in Gaza, including providing places for students to train in practical courses.

He pointed out that the Ministry has provided a number of scholarships for Gaza students in a number of sisterly and friendly countries, the latest of which is providing scholarships to students who took the Palestinian General Secondary School Examination in the Arab Republic of Egypt for the year 2024.

The Council of University Presidents discussed a number of topics and issues related to developing and improving the outputs of the higher education sector, including the issue of evaluating doctoral programs in Palestinian universities.

The Council also discussed the status of the Student Loan Fund, stressing the importance of this fund and the necessity of preserving it to continue its important work of supporting needy Palestinian higher education students.

The Council stressed the importance of enhancing efforts to rec
over the funds owed by borrowers to the Fund, and enhancing the Fund’s financial resources to ensure that the largest possible number of needy students are loaned.

Source: Maan News Agency

Riyadh, Abdullah Ali Al Yahya Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs arrived in Riyadh.

According to the Saudi News Agency (SPA), upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport, he was received by Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El Khereiji, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jasem bin Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Eng. El Khereiji welcomed the Kuwaiti minister, who is visiting Saudi Arabia to participate in the 161st Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GCC states.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Cairo – Ma’an – The Arab League Council meeting at the level of permanent delegates, chaired by Yemen, kicked off today, Sunday, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Cairo, in preparation for the work of the 162nd session of the Council at the level of foreign ministers, scheduled to be held the day after tomorrow, Tuesday, in the presence of Assistant Secretary-General Ambassador Hossam Zaki.

The delegation of the State of Palestine to the meeting was headed by: Ambassador Muhannad Al-Aklouk, Palestine’s delegate to the Arab League, First Counselor Mervat Hassan, Director of Arab Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, First Counselor Rizk Al-Zaanin, First Counselor Tamer Al-Tayeb, Counselor Jumana Al-Ghoul, and attachés Ala Amer and Maher Masoud, from the Palestinian delegation to the Arab League.

Over the course of two days, the Council will review the draft agenda for the session, which includes several main items covering various areas of joint Arab action, most notably
the developments in the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli conflict, especially the ongoing Israeli aggression and war of extermination to which the Palestinian territories are exposed, the serious violations to which the occupied city of Jerusalem is exposed, the activation of the Arab Peace Initiative, and the report of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States on the activities of the League’s General Secretariat and the procedures for implementing the Council’s decisions between sessions (161) and (162).

It also includes items related to social affairs, human rights, economic issues, maintaining national security and combating terrorism, developing the Arab system for combating terrorism, reforming and developing the League of Arab States, and reports of the standing committees for administrative, financial, legal and human rights affairs.

The permanent delegates are scheduled to submit the draft agenda and draft resolutions related to these items to the 162nd ministerial session of the Cou
ncil of the League of Arab States at the level of Arab foreign ministers the day after tomorrow for approval.

Source: Maan News Agency

Manama, Ali Ahmed Al Derazi, Chairman of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), commended the Cabinet’s directive to extend the midday work ban for a three-month period, running from June 15 to September 15, as of 2025.

Al Derazi emphasised that the decision reflects the government’s commitment, under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to protect workers’ rights and ensure their safety, particularly from the risks associated with working in extreme heat.

He highlighted that this decision not only strengthens labour standards but also enhances protection for workers.

Al Derazi noted that this directive aligns with the NIHR’s 2019 recommendations, when the institution launched an ongoing initiative to monitor violations of workers being exposed to direct sunlight between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm during July and August.

He emphasised the NIHR’s commitment to monitoring human rights issues and providing guidance to concerned pa
rties in line with international standards.

The institution encourages individuals to report concerns through its toll-free hotline at 80001144.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Ramallah – Ma’an – The new school year begins tomorrow, amid ongoing genocide against our people in the Gaza Strip and ongoing occupation violations in the West Bank amidst the closure of the areas.

As a year approaches since the start of the last aggression on Gaza, the scenes of killing and destruction are still before our eyes and before more than 600,000 students who have been deprived of their right to continue their free and safe education. It is customary for us to begin our annual statement on the opening of the school year with numbers and data that include the numbers of students, teachers, educational staff and schools in the West Bank and Gaza, and to shed light on the preparations and arrangements for the opening of the school year throughout the homeland and our schools abroad.

However, unusually, we find that this year is different from previous years; the occupation’s aggression on Gaza resulted in the targeting of more than 25,000 children, between martyrs and wounded; More than 10,000 of o
ur school students were killed, while 90% of the 307 government school buildings were destroyed.

This situation in the Gaza Strip is no different from the reality of education in Jerusalem, which is still under the pressure of Israelization and Judaization policies. The same applies to the so-called areas (C), and even to city centers and camps that have become the scene of destructive operations launched by the occupation. What happened in Jenin and Tulkarm and their camps is the closest example to describing these violations.

It is customary for us to review the starting points for development and modernization and the developments of the new year; and in the context of the current circumstances, the spirit of will will not be absent and the flame of work will not fade. Despite the expansion of the scope of targeting, the Ministry is moving forward with all hope towards protecting education and providing all opportunities for our children in the Gaza Strip; as the Ministry is working and has begun to laun
ch virtual schools and open our schools in the West Bank to our students in Gaza, and determination leads us to provide as much education as possible, even if inside dilapidated tents; The right to education is an approach and practice, not a luxury, theory and slogans. This is what the presidency and government institutions embody, and what the interest in education reflects, especially in light of the current situation.

The construction process will continue, and we will build schools. In partnership with national and local bodies, institutions and partners, we will overcome this difficult stage, with the determination of our loyal teachers, whom we trust and are proud of their presence and their belonging to the sacred message of knowledge, and with the support of parents and the commitment of students.

In conclusion, we pray for the martyrs who are more honorable than all of us, and we hope for the speedy release of our prisoners and the full recovery of our wounded. Education will remain our path to li
beration and our sure choice for survival and steadfastness. Education will remain a tool for liberation and construction. Our schools in the Jordan Valley and Al-Musafir and all the schools of challenge will remain a witness that we are determined to continue building and giving. Gaza schools will return to pulsating with giving, for if the buildings are destroyed, the meanings will not be destroyed.

Source: Maan News Agency

Manama, Faris Mustafa Al Kooheji, Secretary General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), has been elected to the Executive Board of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) during the 44th OCA General Assembly held on September 8, in India.

The assembly elected Randhir Singh of India as President of the OCA for the 2024-2028 term.

Al Kooheji was appointed by consensus as a member of the Executive Board and Chairman of the Media Committee, securing a prominent position for Bahrain within the OCA leadership.

On this occasion, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), commended Al Kooheji’s election.

HH Shaikh Khalid noted that this achievement represents the international recognition of Bahrain’s sports achievements and the dedication and efforts of Al Kooheji in strengthening ties with OCA leaders.

HH Shaikh Khalid underscored t
hat securing this seat reflects a significant achievement by positioning the Kingdom within the world’s second-largest sports organisation, that corresponds with its contributions to the Olympic movement on regionally and internationally.

On his part, Al Kooheji expressed his appreciation to HH Shaikh Khalid for his unwavering support and encouragement of young Bahraini leaders to assume high-level international roles.

He also thanked the members of the General Assembly and OCA President for their confidence, and underscored his commitment to upholding the trust placed in him.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Ramallah – Ma’an – The Israeli occupation forces arrested at least 35 citizens from the West Bank during the past two days, including former prisoners, in addition to summoning a female citizen.

The Prisoners Club and the Commission of Prisoners and Freed Prisoners Affairs said in a joint statement that the arrests were distributed across most of the West Bank governorates, while the occupation forces continue to carry out wide-scale raids and abuse, attacks and threats against detainees and their families, during the arrest campaigns, in addition to field investigations, vandalism and destruction of citizens’ homes.

The statement added that the occupation forces continue to implement systematic arrest campaigns, as one of the most prominent fixed policies, which has escalated in an unprecedented manner since the beginning of the ongoing war of extermination, not only in terms of the number of detainees, but also in terms of the level of crimes they commit.

Source: Maan News Agency

Manama, Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education, met with school principals, including four newly appointed individuals, based on their exceptional evaluation results and field experience.

The newly appointed principals are:

Narjis Mohammed Sharif

Abdullah Ibrahim Al Qassab

Fathi Abdulhassan Al Majid

Maryam Nabeel Al Atawi

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Ramallah – Ma’an – The Central Bureau of Statistics reported that illiteracy rates in Palestine are among the lowest in the world (2.1% among individuals aged 15 years and over) for the year 2023, while the illiteracy rate among Palestinian individuals aged 15 years and over in the territories of 1948 reached 3.6% in the year 2017, according to data from the Galilee Society (Rakaaz).

The data indicated a significant decline in the illiteracy rate since 1997, as the illiteracy rate among the Palestinian population aged 15 years and over decreased from 13.9% in 1997 to 2.1% in 2023. This trend of decline applies to both sexes, as the rate among males decreased from 7.8% in 1997 to 1.1% in 2023, while among females it decreased from 20.3% to 3.2% for the same period.

At the regional level, the rate in the West Bank decreased from 14.1% in 1997 to 3.2% in 2023, while in the Gaza Strip it decreased from 13.7% to 1.9% for the same period.

20 illiterate men and women out of every 100 elderly people

The statistic
s indicated that the age group of 65 years and over recorded the highest illiteracy rate, while the age group (30-44 years) recorded the lowest rate. The illiteracy rate among the elderly 65 years and over reached 20.4% in 2023, and reached 2.2% for the age group (45-64 years) and 0.7% for the age group (30-44 years), while this rate among young people (15-29 years) reached 0.8% for the same year.

Rural communities recorded the highest illiteracy rate.

The statistics indicated that the illiteracy rate in rural communities reached 2.6%, 2.4% in camps, and 2.0% in urban communities in 2023.

Source: Maan News Agency