Switzerland supports UNRWA with 11 million US dollars


Switzerland announced today, Friday, a contribution of 10 million Swiss francs ($11.2 million) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Foreign Policy Committee of the Swiss House of Representatives said that this financial payment came in response to UNRWA’s appeal for humanitarian aid, and aims exclusively to cover the organization’s most urgent needs in Gaza in the period until next December, as those needs include food, water, shelter, and health care. Primary and logistics services

Source: Maan News Agency

MOEHE Announces Opening of Registration for Government Scholarships for the Academic Year 2024-2025

Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced the opening of registration for government scholarships for the academic year 2024-2025. This is a significant opportunity for students to obtain scholarships for the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, starting from Saturday, June 15, until Thursday, Aug. 15,2024.

The ministry issued the new scholarship plan, which includes a list of universities, programs, tracks, specializations, and regulations for the bachelor’s program, which requires an unconditional acceptance letter from one of the universities on the scholarship list. It also includes the high school certificate, and the transcript in the event of applying to join.

As for postgraduate studies, the applicant must submit the following documents: an unconditional acceptance letter from one of the universities listed on the scholarship list with a graduation certificate for the previous certificate or its equivalence, in addition to the material statement for the previous certificate.

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ource: Qatar News Agency

Palestinian Injured by Israeli Forces’ Bullets in West Bank

A Palestinian was injured by Israeli occupation forces bullets on Friday in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said that its crews transported a boy who was critically injured by occupation forces bullets in the abdomen during their storming of the vicinity of the Al-Amari camp, south of Al-Bireh city.

The occupation forces arrested a young man during their storming of the city, Security sources said .

The occupation forces also arrested two young men from the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, in conjunction with closing the entrances to the town.

Local sources reported that the occupation forces arrested two young men near the Ramallah-Nablus road adjacent to the town.

The sources noted that the occupation army closed the entrances to Sinjil with military vehicles and prevented citizens from leaving or entering the town.

Meanwhile, colonists attacked Palestinian vehicles, south of Nablus.

The cities, towns, and camps of the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem witness daily raids
and incursions into villages and towns by the occupation forces and settlers, accompanied by confrontations, arrests, and the firing of live and rubber bullets and poison gas bombs at Palestinian youth.

The pace of these campaigns increased in conjunction with the unprecedented and continuing Israeli occupation aggression against the Gaza Strip since last October 7.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Arafat Sermon and Scholarly Lessons Broadcast from the Grand Mosque in Foreign Languages

Mina: The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques is broadcasting all sermons at the Grand Mosque through the Manarat Al-Haramain digital platform and FM radio.

The authority provides live translations of Friday sermons, the Istisqa (prayer asking for rain) prayer, lunar and solar eclipses prayers, and lessons at the Grand Mosque into 10 languages.

Also translated are the Eid Al-Adha and Eid Al-Fitr sermons, the Day of Arafat sermon, and continuous 24-hour live broadcasts. The authority also offers live translations informing about programs and initiatives during the Umrah and Hajj seasons.

The authority also offers guidance service for pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in more than 50 languages, including English, French, Malay, Persian, Urdu, Russian, Chinese, Hausa, Turkish and Bengali. This service entails guiding and directing inquiries to designated locations at the Grand Mosque and its courtyards. It informs pilgrims of prayer times, lesson schedules, lecture timings, and exhibition visit
schedules.

The authority enriches the pilgrims’ experience with cultural and historical information about the Grand Mosque, live sermons, lessons, and electronic broadcasts, and distributes wireless headsets to access them.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

National Center for Meteorology Ensures Safety During Tarwiyah Day

Mina: The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) is committed to providing essential weather data and services during the Day of Tarwiyah. It works closely with various stakeholders supporting the holy sites to ensure all parties have access to the latest weather information and weather forecasts.

NCM utilizes its technology, weather stations, and dedicated staff stationed within the holy sites to deliver these services in accordance with best international practices.

Furthermore, NCM offers a comprehensive awareness program in five languages targeting pilgrims and service providers. This program aims to educate everyone on weather risks and ensure a safe and comfortable Hajj experience.

The center forecasts high temperatures today in Mash’ar, potentially reaching 43°C with winds reaching 34 km/h. It also monitors cloud formations in the Taif highlands and their potential impact on the holy sites.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Al-Bida’ Well on Zubaydah Trail Has Been Quenching Pilgrims’ Thirst for Centuries

Rafha: Al-Bida’ site, also known as Al-Tha’labiah, located 90 kilometers south of Laynah village in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders Region, is an unearthed treasure trove of history and architecture.

Part of the Darb Zubaydah (Zubaydah Trail), a historic Makkah-Kufa pilgrimage route submitted to the UNESCO tentative list in 2022, the site boasts significant cultural and archaeological significance and lies within the vast Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve.

Al-Bida’ features over 120 architectural units. Its crown jewel is the magnificent circular stone well that exceeds 12 meters in diameter. The well stands out for its unique entrance — a one-meter-wide and two-meter-high corridor located at the base of the well — that leads to the ground surface on the western side. Remarkably, the well has provided fresh water for centuries, quenching the thirst of travelers along this historic route.

The surrounding area is dotted with numerous additional wells, while three fortresses and various architectural st
ructures of varying sizes and purposes hint at the site’s former bustling activity.

The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, which encompasses a staggering 91,500 square kilometers, protects over 400 kilometers of the Zubaydah Trail.

Besides Al-Bida’, the reserve shelters numerous significant landmarks within its boundaries. These historical, archaeological, and cultural gems, most centered around the Zubaydah Trail, offer a glimpse into the past, with remnants whispering tales of pilgrims and traders who traversed this path for centuries.

The reserve’s diverse topography, encompassing valleys, mountains, and the vast Nafud Desert, further enriches the visitors’ experience.

Source: Saudi Press Agency