Day: August 1, 2024

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh signed a Memorandum of Understanding today in Jeddah with the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). The Nigerian delegation was represented by NSCIA member Sheikh Al-Hajj Yahya Abu Bakar and several officials from both sides. The MOU aims to enhance cooperation between the two countries in promoting Islam and its values, raising the cultural level of Muslims and conducting training courses for imams and preachers in Nigeria, focusing on preaching and teaching the Arabic language. The agreement encompasses a wide range of areas, including mosque affairs, construction, maintenance, and restoration, as well as the preparation, training, and qualification of mosque staff. It also involves the exchange of expertise in electronic preaching and combatting websites promoting violence, extremism, and disrespect towards Islam, thereby ensuring a comprehensive and effective collaboration. The agreement inc ludes provisions for 'Serving the Holy Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah,' which involves providing NSCIA member Sheikh Al-Hajj Yahya Abu Bakar with publications from the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur'an and the Translation of its Meanings. Furthermore, it involves exchanging invitations to participate in memorization and recitation competitions of the Holy Qur'an and having judges participate in related competitions held in both countries. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, The fifth Palm Tree Festival was inaugurated today, Thursday, at the permanent Farmers Market in Hoorat A'ali, and will run until Saturday. The opening ceremony was attended by Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture; Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD); Dalal Ahmed Al Qais, CEO of Bahrain Development Bank Group (BDB); the CEO of Tamkeen, along with numerous farmers, agricultural companies, artisans, and productive families. The festival features a variety of palm products, including fresh dates and other related items, as well as a small exhibition of traditional Bahraini crafts, showcasing the lifestyle of past generations. The Municipalities Minister emphasised the significance of palm cultivation in the Bahraini culture, noting its role in supporting environmental sustainability and sustainable agricultural development. He highlighted that palm and date processing industri es are crucial for enhancing national agricultural products, diversifying income sources, and contributing to food security. The Minister mentioned the Ministry's efforts to develop the agricultural sector and promote sustainable palm cultivation. These efforts include preserving agricultural heritage, establishing genetic collections of local palm varieties for evaluation and preservation, implementing modern agricultural technologies, preparing an atlas of important date palm varieties in GCC countries, and conducting necessary studies related to palm trees. The Secretary General of NIAD commended the support from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, follow-up by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the directives of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King, for their efforts in preserving palm trees as part of Bahrain's cultural heritage. She thanked the Bahrain Development Bank for organising the festival and expressed her appr eciation for the variety and quality of the displayed products and the wealth of expertise and information available about palm cultivation. The CEO of BDB thanked NIAD, the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Tamkeen, BDB, and the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) for their collaborative efforts in making the festival a success. She highlighted that the festival provides an ideal platform for farmers and productive families to showcase their products, interact with the public, and raise awareness about the importance of palm cultivation. The bank aims to support the agricultural sector through various financial services and facilities, enhancing its contribution to the local economy. The festival is organised by the Farmers Market management under the BDB Group, in collaboration with NIAD, the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, and with support from Tamkeen, the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), and GPIC. The event aims to encourage and support local production of palm products, reinforce Bahraini agricultural identity, and celebrate it. Additionally, it seeks to support Bahraini farmers by providing them with opportunities to promote their products to the public and increase their sales and investments. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Ramallah - Ma'an - The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club confirmed on Thursday evening the martyrdom of prisoner Islam Al-Sarsawi (42 years old) from the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in Gaza, who was arrested during the recent storming of Al-Shifa Hospital, as a result of being subjected to torture inside the (Sde Teiman) camp. He is one of dozens of detainees who have died in the occupation's prisons and camps, and the occupation continues to conceal their identities. The two institutions confirmed in a joint statement that, "according to the information that was verified, Al-Sarsawi was martyred four months ago, until they obtained confirmed information about his fate today." The Commission and the Club explained that the martyr prisoner Al-Sarsawi was arrested along with dozens of others from inside Al-Shifa Hospital, and their fate or places of detention were not revealed at the time, as a result of the crime of enforced disappearance. The Commission and the Club stated that with the martyrdom of the prisoner Sarsawi, the number of martyrs of the prisoner movement since 1967 has risen to (257), including (20) prisoners who have been martyred since the beginning of the war of extermination, and whose identities have been announced, in addition to dozens of martyred prisoners from Gaza, and the occupation continues to conceal their identities. The Commission and the Club called on the international community institutions to take immediate action to stop the crime of enforced disappearance and the crimes of torture that are escalating in an unprecedented manner in their intensity inside the occupation prisons and camps, and not to leave the male and female prisoners as prey to the occupation prison administration and its systematic policy, which today has more support than ever and by a political decision from the colonial government, to kill them, as the prisoners are facing the harshest and most severe stages as a result of the crimes of torture and humiliation. The Commission and the Club called for the acceleration of the formation of a UN investigation committee with a comprehensive mandate to investigate all crimes committed by the occupation against male and female prisoners, and for the human rights system to emerge from its state of inability to stop the war of extermination and prisoner aggression, which constitutes another aspect of it. According to the two institutions, the number of prisoners in the occupation prisons has reached more than (9900), and this number does not include all detainees from Gaza. Source: Maan News Agency

Manama, Abdulla bin Khalid Al Khalifa College of Islamic Studies has announced the opening of admissions for students wishing to enrol in the Bachelor's programme in Islamic Studies for the 2024/2025 academic year. Applications will be accepted from Tuesday, August 6 until Thursday, August 8, 2024. The college said that applicants must be Bahraini citizens with a high school diploma or equivalent, achieving a cumulative grade point average of at least 70%. Eligible applicants include graduates from the 2023/2024 academic year from religious institutes, both Sunni and Jaafari, as well as from public and private schools. Prospective students who meet the criteria are requested to submit their applications via email to (AKCIS.Services@moe.bh), including their full name, personal identification number, and contact details. Required documents to be attached are: a valid passport, a valid ID card, a copy of ID card data obtained through a card reader, graduation certificate and transcript, an equivalency certific ate issued by the Directorate of Private School Licensing and Follow up of the Ministry of Education for private school graduates, and two recent personal photographs. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Jerusalem - Ma'an - The American newspaper "Financial Times" reported late Wednesday that "American and European diplomats are holding urgent discussions in the Middle East in an attempt to avoid a regional war." Politico quoted the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee as saying that "the assassinations in Beirut and Tehran are hindering the hostage negotiations." Source: Maan News Agency

Manama, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Dr. Shaikha Mariam bint Hassan Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW); and Lulwa Saleh Al Awadhi, Acting Secretary General at SCW. The meeting emphasised the importance of enhancing cooperation and collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SCW to continue to support the advancement of Bahraini women and strengthen their contributions to the Kingdom's progress, as part of the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Hebron - Ma'an - A 21-year-old man was injured this evening by Israeli occupation forces' bullets in the southern area of ??Hebron, and his injury was described as serious. Medical sources at Muhammad Ali Al-Muhtaseb Hospital in the southern region of Hebron confirmed that doctors are dealing with a young man who was injured in the back and his condition is serious but stable. He will be transferred to another hospital to complete medical treatment. Local sources reported that the young man, Khader Nawaf Al-Rajabi, 21 years old, was shot by the occupation army near the Abu Al-Rish checkpoint and was transferred to the hospital for treatment. Source: Maan News Agency

Jakarta, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), met with Pahala Nugraha Mansury, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. The meeting highlighted GCC-Indonesia cooperation and discussed means to enhance partnership. They also reviewed the joint action plan between the council and Indonesia for 2020-2024. Albudaiwi emphasised that the expected outcomes of the joint action plan will significantly bolster cooperation, marking an important step towards a strategic partnership between the GCC and Indonesia. The two parties also discussed and exchanged views on the latest regional political and security developments. Source: Bahrain News Agency