Category: Information

HE Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater stressed that protecting education from attack is highly significant for the State of Qatar, noting that the country’s impartial mediations in various conflicts over the past two decades provided close monitoring of the advantages of education and the devastation emanating from its absence, which made an investment in sound education a top priority for the State of Qatar both regionally and globally.

In a recorded speech delivered at a side event on the occasion of the second anniversary of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, Her Excellency said that the State of Qatar has always been one of the main supporters of the Safe Schools Declaration since it was launched in 2015. Her Excellency noted that the establishment of the Education Above All Foundation, one of the sponsors of this event, aimed at providing quality education for those affected by poverty, conflict and disasters, highlighting the foundation’s “Educate A Child” Program projects implemented with 82 global partners and 50 countries and its achievement of getting 10 million children enrolled in schools.

Her Excellency said that the draft resolution submitted by the State of Qatar to adopt the International Day to Protect Education from Attack was unanimously adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, in recognition of the importance of ensuring quality education at all levels, and ensuring safe learning environments in emergencies and armed conflicts.

HE Assistant Foreign Minister stressed that education in itself is a fundamental human right, and must be provided for all people at all times, noting that education in emergencies, in particular, is viewed as a lifeline for those stuck in conflict areas or in displacement and long-distance asylum camps.

Her Excellency deemed marking this occasion an opportunity to contemplate how education can improve our lives and liberate us from vicious circles that create nothing but destruction, and how attacks on education can threaten the well-being and survival of millions of our children worldwide.

Her Excellency noted that the COVID-19 pandemic posed an exceptional challenge for both teachers and students, most notably those living in conflict areas, calling for deeming education at the heart of international efforts to recover from the pandemic amid a notable surge in attacks on schools. According to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attacks (GCPEA) report (Education Under Attack 2021), in 2020 and 202, more than 5,000 attacks were recorded on educational facilities, students and teachers, and more than 9,000 students, teachers, and academics were harmed, injured or killed in attacks on education amid armed conflicts. Her Excellency said, deeming the figures extremely alarming that necessitate immediate attention and need for further action to protect education from attack.

HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater expressed her conviction that the optimum protection of education from attack will only be achieved by putting an end to armed conflicts, calling – when his objective is achieved- for concrete steps to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

Her Excellency added that this goal can be achieved through launching awareness campaigns for both rebels in conflict areas and the general public. It is highly significant to engage armed groups in education about how violations of the right to education constitute a serious breach of international humanitarian law and may amount to a war crime and a crime against humanity, Her Excellency pointed out, calling also for documenting and probing attacks on education, publishing sweeping reports to facilitate accountability, as well as persuading more states and parties to ratify and abide by the Safe Schools Declaration.

Her Excellency believed that the Transforming Education Summit (TES) to be held in Sep. 2022 in New York, could be the appropriate place for all countries and stakeholders to exchange ideas and views on how to put education at the top of the political agenda to mobilize action and support to transform education in this changing world.

Her Excellency concluded that the responsibility to respect, protect and fulfill the right to education makes it necessary to adopt a multidimensional approach that places education at the top of priorities in terms of policy-making, financing, allocation and provision of assistance, stressing that this objective will only be reached through protecting schools, universities and all educational facilities from attacks and recognizing their civilian nature to ensure that they will always remain safe havens to promote peace, development and stability.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ms. Abeer Al Khalifa, President of Pre-University Education (PUE) division at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has announced a plan to expand QF’s schools to include additional classrooms at Qatar Academy Al Khor and Qatar Academy Al Wakra (QAW). This aims to accommodate registration applications, which have significantly increased, particularly in Awsaj and Renad Academy.

She pointed out that QF’s schools, which are including nowadays 7500 male and female students from different nationalities, continue to provide a comprehensive academic experience based on lifelong learning, since QF seeks to build a global student.

She noted that qualitative education provided by QF schools requires attracting people with the best competencies and skills, since there are currently 1500 employees working in PUE; 30% are males and 70% are females who represent 78 nationalities and work on providing an integrated educational experience.

Source: Government of Qatar

The Police College organised the graduation ceremony for the second group of the Police Officers of Tomorrow Program, in the presence of Maj. Gen. Dr. Abdullah Yousef Al-Mal, Advisor to H.E the Minister of Interior, Vice-President of the Supreme Council of the Police College, along with a number of directors of departments at the Ministry of Interior and parents of graduates.

Participants in the second group of 300 students of the program received military field training and sports exercises to raise physical fitness and learn the basics of shooting, swimming and self-defence skills, in addition to recreational competitions and educational lectures.

The Police College celebrated the graduation of the first group of the Program on Wednesday. . Parents expressed their happiness for their children to join the program, which aims to consolidate values and enhance national identity among young people.

Source: Ministry of Interior

Aden, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) diagnosed 300 students with hearing impairments in centers for people with disabilities in the governorates of Aden and Hadramout, Yemen in preparation for providing them with hearing aids.

It is noteworthy that the project contributes to addressing the main challenges facing educational institutions in the field of people with disabilities and illiteracy eradication by providing school equipment for 20 centers for people with disabilities and 10 literacy schools in three governorates of Aden, Abyan and Hadramout.

This comes within the humanitarian and relief projects being implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Center, to support the Yemeni educational sector, improve its outputs, and help people with special needs in all fields.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France, today in Paris, witnessed the signing of two agreements. The first is a Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership (CSEP) between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and France. The second is a strategic partnership agreement between ADNOC and Total Energies.

The UAE-France CSEP focuses on enhancing energy security, energy affordability and decarbonisation, as well as progressive climate action ahead of COP28 (28th Session of the Conference of the Parties) which is set to take place in the UAE in 2023. The landmark partnership builds on the strong, close and long-standing bilateral relations between both countries and leverages the UAE’s position as a responsible and reliable supplier of energy. The UAE holds the sixth-largest crude oil reserves in the world and is committed to enabling global energy security.

Through a balanced and pragmatic approach to the energy transition, the UAE is expanding its crude oil production capacity to five million barrels per day while growing its global renewable energy capacity from 23 gigawatts (GW) to over 100GW by 2030. The UAE is also investing over $50 billion in clean energy projects in six continents, including in 27 climate vulnerable island nations, through Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, as well as other UAE platforms.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, as well as Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister of Energy Transition. The UAE is represented by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), while France is represented by the Ministry of Economy, Finances and Industrial & Digital Sovereignty, and the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

Dr. Al Jaber said: “The UAE, under the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, continues to consolidate its position as a reliable energy provider and key contributor to global energy security while advancing progressive climate action. France is a close, long-standing strategic partner of the UAE, and this Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership provides a robust platform for us to work together to better deliver secure, affordable and sustainable energy required to drive economic growth and prosperity for our countries and the world.

“The landmark agreement deepens the cooperation between our countries across the energy value chain and unlocks technology and energy solutions that are good for the climate and the economy. In line with the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership, we will continue to build bridges of partnership across conventional and new energies, as well as capitalise on the economic opportunities of the energy transition, strengthen industrial cooperation and drive sustainable growth.”

UAE is adopting a low-carbon pathway to a high-growth destination and is aiming to accelerate progress on this journey as hosts of COP28. The country was the first in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement, the first to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions and the first to announce a Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, which it is leveraging as a catalyst for low-carbon growth, new technologies, new industries, new skills and new jobs.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

Her Highness Shaikha Moza bint Hamad Al Khalifa Pediatric Cardiology and Surgery Unit has been opened at the Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Specialist Cardiac Centre in Awali.

Her Highness Shaikha Thajba bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Her Highness Shaikha Mariam bint Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa inaugurated the new medical facility.

The opening ceremony took place in the presence of Her Highness Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation, Founder of the Board of Directors of MKF E-Services.

The event was also attended by and Southern Governor His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Major General Dr. Fouad Abdulqader Saeed, Deputy Director of the Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa Specialist Cardiac Centre and Dr. Resan Humood Al Badran, Advisor of Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa Specialist Cardiac Centre.

The medical unit was fully equipped with a donation from Her Highness Shaikha Moza bint Hamad Al Khalifa Fund, which is managed by AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation.

On this occasion, Her Highness Shaikha Thajba bint Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Her Highness Shaikha Mariam bint Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa expressed their happiness at the opening of the unit of Her Highness Shaikha Moza bint Hamad Al Khalifa Unit for the treatment and surgery of pediatric cardiology, which is considered an exceptional addition to the medical services provided in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

“The idea of establishing Her Highness Shaikha Moza bint Hamad Al Khalifa Fund aims to undertake qualitative initiatives that affect the needs of the Bahraini citizen, especially within the health sector. We would like to extend our sincerer thanks and appreciation to those in charge of the Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa Specialist Cardiac Centre and wish them continued success.”, she said.

“We are excited and proud to inaugurate Her Highness Shaikha Moza bint Hamad Al Khalifa Unit for the treatment and surgery of pediatric cardiology, which contributes to the promotion of health and treatment services in the Kingdom of Bahrain”.

“This step comes as part of our continued efforts to support the Economic Vision 2030, as well as the sustainable development goals, in terms of good health and well-being and creating partnerships to achieve common goals”.

“I am grateful for the trust of Her Highness Shaikha Thajba bint Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Shaikha Mariam bint Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in their support of the Fund, as it has succeeded in supporting several humanitarian initiatives in the health, educational and social fields. We at AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation look forward to managing similar funds in the future to achieve a community partnership that serves the Bahraini community,” commented Her Highness Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation and Founder of the Board of Directors of MKF E-Services.

HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Governor of the Southern Governorate, extended his highest thanks, appreciation and gratitude to Her Highness Shaikha Thajba bint Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Her Highness Shaikha Mariam bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa for their kindness in opening a medical unit in the name of the late, Her Highness Shaikha Moza bint Hamad Al Khalifa, for the treatment and surgery of pediatric cardiology at the Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa Specialist Cardiac Centre in Awali.

Her stressed that the opening of the unit comes as a testament to the initiatives and support of the Her Highness Shaikha Moza bint Hamad Al Khalifa Fund, which is managed by AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation, for the unit’s role in benefiting the people of the neighborhood through the diagnosis and treatment of patients according to the highest medical standards.

He noted the center’s efforts in providing the Bahraini citizen’s needs of advanced treatment and its relentless pursuit towards achieving therapeutic services that are of high standards.

He commended the level of close cooperation managed by Her Highness Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation and Founder of the Board of Directors of MKF E-Services, through sponsoring and adopting initiatives that serve the citizens of the Kingdom, as well as her continuous support to establishing this unit that embodies the aspirations of the general public.

“We commend the contributions and support of Her Highness Shaikha Moza bint Hamad Al Khalifa Fund to open a medical unit specialized in the treatment and surgery of cardiac diseases for children at the center. We would like to extend our appreciation for this generous donation, which serves the local community within the Kingdom”, said Major General Doctor Fouad Abdulqader Saeed, Deputy Director of the Cardiac Centre.

“We would also like to thank the Foundation for its distinguished national role, which supports various fields and initiatives. In turn, we look forward to providing the best treatment care for all patients at the center, including pediatric patients in this medical unit designated specifically for them”.

“We affirm our commitment to work towards protecting the health and safety of community members, and to serve them wholeheartedly and to the fullest. As of recently, 21 open-hear surgeries were performed on children aged from 15 days to 12 years for the first time in Bahrain, by a medical team capable of performing such surgeries, all of which were crowned with success”.

Dr. Resan Humood Al Badran, Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Salman Cardiac Specialist Centre Advisor, also thanked Her Highness Shaikha Thajba bint Salman Al Khalifa and Her Highness Shaikha Mariam bint Salman Al Khalifa and Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa for supporting humanitarian initiatives directed towards the Bahraini citizen.

The Mohammed bin bin Khalifa bin Salman Cardiac Specialist Centre was inaugurated on February 4, 2021 in Awali, under the supervision and implementation of the Bahrain Defense Force ‘BDF’.

The center consists of a main building and seven supporting buildings, which include: the main kitchen, main warehouse, two buildings for the main security services, a building for support services, and a building for the information center.

The center contains 148 beds with the possibility of expansion in the future. It is also equipped with five catheterization laboratories, and two cardiac surgery theatres, all of which are equipped with the latest in modern technology to support smart hospitals. The center aims to provide high-quality and standard health care in line with international and global standards.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, affirmed that policies to empower people of determination and ensure their integration into society are an integral part of the UAE Government’s vision. Based on the aim of serving people of determination, the UAE is working to harmonize policies and legislation in line with the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The remarks came in a statement made by Her Excellency at the 15th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which took place from June 14-16 in New York. The UAE also participated in a side event entitled “Disability in Pandemics and Crises: Technology Adaptation and Economic Empowerment.”

Her Excellency said the UAE promotes the rights of people of determination with numerous federal and local laws, which prioritize access to accommodation and ensure their needs are taken into account in various fields.

“These include the Response Policy to the Empowerment of People of Determination in Emergencies, Crises & Disasters, National Policy for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder under the ‘United for Autism’ vision, the Electronic Access Policy for People of Determination, and other policies and laws that align with international legislation to support and empower people of determination.”

Her Excellency underscored the important role the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) plays as an independent entity in the UAE that operates in accordance with the internationally adopted Paris Principles. The NHRI, she noted, works to advance the rights of people of determination and improve their quality of life, adding that the UAE Government believes in international cooperation as a solid foundation to advance social development.

In addition, the UAE invested in Expo 2020 Dubai—the most prominent global event ever hosted by the country and the greatest show of human brilliance in the Middle East and North Africa—and organized many events supporting the rights of people of determination who make up the UAE’s community of 200 nationalities living in harmony.

Her Excellency also noted during her participation in the side event that the UAE Ministry of Community Development has built a database that includes accurate demographic, social, and educational data for more than 30,000 people of determination in the country. The UAE has issued identification cards that enable them to access many benefits, services, and facilities. During the pandemic in particular, Her Excellency noted, this database helped identify the needs and geographical distribution of people of determination.

Her Excellency pointed out that the UAE hosted an important event in cooperation with the League of Arab States and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), entitled “Disability Classification in Arab Countries…Towards a Common Vision,” in which she presented her experience in formulating a unified national classification and its impact on services for people of determination, before and during the pandemic.

She also underscored the UAE’s keenness and appreciation for efforts to bolster cooperation, integration, and partnership with the League of Arab States, ESCWA, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs to support and empower all members of society, especially people of determination.

Her Excellency added: “One of the most important challenges facing service providers is to ensure comprehensive access, in light of crises, pandemics, and disasters, especially for people of determination. This is what the UAE Government has realized with its belief in the importance of communication and technology in advancing development, empowering people of determination socially and economically, and supporting their access to information.’’

Examples of such technological empowerment include the ‘Kheta’ electronic platform, the ‘My Family with Me’ application, and the early detection application, ‘Nemo.’ The UAE also operated other digital and smart programs to rehabilitate and empower people of determination by providing them with vocational training, supporting their employment, and enhancing their productivity. Remote workshops initiatives and e-marketing of products also enabled people of determination to participate, communicate, and interact with others in various fields and contexts.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

The Information and e-Government Authority (iGA) welcomed today Slovak Deputy Prime Minister, Stefan Holy, and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of his official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. They were informed about the kingdom’s experience in launching Benayat Building Permit system.

Chief Executive of the Information and eGovernment Authority, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia Republic and his accompanying delegation, lauding relations between the two friendly countries. He also stressed the importance of such visits in exchanging technical experiences.

The meeting shed light mainly on Benayat Building Permit system as well as issues pertaining to the Information and Technology field. It was attended by iGA Chief Executive Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Municipality Affairs Undersecretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Deputy Chief Executive for Operation and Governance Dr. Khalid Al Mutawa’a, Assistant Undersecretary for Resources and Information Mohammed Adel Buhassan, as well as directors and officials from iGA and the Ministry of Municipality and Agriculture Affairs.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

His Excellency Mr. Sultan bin Rashid Al-Khater, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, met with the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation CEO and his accompanying delegation, as part of Qatar’s participation in the Hannover Messe International Industrial Fair 2022.

The meeting was attended by a number of representatives from the entities forming the Qatar delegation, namely the Investment Promotion Agency, Qatar Chamber, Qatar Science & Technology Park and Qatar Development Bank.

During the meeting, officials discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides in many fields, especially in terms of investment and technology.

H.E. the Undersecretary of Commerce and Industry highlighted the successful economic policies Qatar has put in place to support the private sector, and pointed out the incentives, legislations, and promising opportunities available in Qatar that are aimed at encouraging Malaysian investors, businessmen, and business owners to invest in Qatar.

The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) is wholly owned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad which is the strategic investment fund of the government of Malaysia.

MTDC has been a leading player in technology marketing in Malaysia for more than 30 years. It aims to instil modern technologies use by local companies and is active in many areas, including fund management, providing project incubators, and offering advisory services. These areas, especially knowledge, technology, innovation, support, and investments, are among the most important pillars of Malaysia’s economic growth.

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry