November 7 Declared National Working Holiday Honoring Muslim Filipinos — Marcos
Signed into law on July 9, 2025, Republic Act No. 12228 designates the day as Sheikh Karim'ul Makhdum Day, commemorating the arrival of the Arab missionary who introduced Islam to the Philippines and built the first mosque in Tawi-Tawi.
The law affirms the government's commitment to religious inclusivity and recognizes the essential contributions of Muslim Filipinos to Philippine history and identity. Related Articles
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Sharjah 24
5 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Arab Parliament for the Child convenes second session in Sharjah
Al-Barout highlights focus on Arab cultural identity His Excellency Ayman Othman Al-Barout, Secretary-General of the Arab Parliament for the Child, stated that the session focused on discussing the cultural identity of Arab children. A total of 56 young members presented their recommendations on the topic, which the General Secretariat will forward to the Arab League for potential implementation. Emphasis on technology and social media Al-Barout noted that the discussions showed the children's impressive parliamentary capabilities. Their recommendations emphasised the need to leverage modern technology and social media to reinforce Arab cultural identity and promote Arab achievements. Coordination with the League of Arab States He added that the Arab Parliament for the Child, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the League of Arab States, will distribute the recommendations to member state delegations. Follow-up measures will be taken if the League formally adopts them. High-level attendance reflects regional confidence The session was attended by representatives from the Women, Family and Children Department of the League of Arab States, official delegations from participating countries, experts, media professionals, and the General Secretariat of the Arab Parliament. This wide participation underscores the importance and credibility of the Arab Parliament for the Child in cultivating awareness and skills among Arab youth.
Sharjah 24
5 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Ziad Rahbani, iconic Lebanese musician and playwright, dies at 69
A legacy of rebellion and innovation Often described as the enfant terrible of Lebanese culture, Rahbani left a lasting impact on generations through his provocative theatre pieces and innovative music. His work addressed political and social themes, often preempting or responding to Lebanon's turmoil, including the civil war that began in 1975. Revolutionary theatre and satire Rahbani's 1980 satirical play Film Ameriki Tawil (The American Motion Picture) remains one of his most iconic works. Set in an asylum during the civil war, it used humor and allegory to critique Lebanon's fractured society and political chaos. Musical heritage and oriental jazz As the son of Fairuz and Assi Rahbani—two pillars of Arab music—Ziad Rahbani inherited a profound artistic legacy. His contributions modernized Lebanese music, blending jazz with traditional Arabic melodies in a style he dubbed 'Oriental jazz.' His compositions for Fairuz brought her renewed popularity among younger generations. A voice for the marginalised Rahbani's outspoken secular and leftist views shaped both his art and public image. He consistently challenged Lebanon's sectarian divides and championed justice, earning him admiration across political lines. Tributes from across Lebanon Tributes poured in following his death. Actress Carmen Lebbos, his former partner, wrote: 'I feel like everything has gone. I feel like Lebanon has become empty.' President Joseph Aoun hailed Rahbani as 'a voice that rebelled against injustice, an honest mirror for the oppressed.' Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon had lost 'a free voice who stayed faithful to the values of justice and dignity.' Culture Minister Ghassan Salame expressed grief, noting, 'We dreaded this day as we knew his health was worsening and that his desire for treatment was dwindling.' Ziad Rahbani's fearless voice, creative spirit, and deep influence on Arab culture will be remembered for generations to come.
Zawya
7 hours ago
- Zawya
Egypt Participates in Drafting and Launching the G20 Development Working Group Ministerial Declaration
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, represented the Arab Republic of Egypt at the G20 Development Working Group Ministerial Meeting held in South Africa. She also participated in drafting and launching the Ministerial Declaration at the conclusion of the meetings. The Ministerial Declaration, issued at the meetings, affirmed that development financing is at the core of shared priorities. It also highlighted the urgent need to enhance domestic resource mobilization, address illicit financial flows, and strengthen the role of multilateral and innovative financing mechanisms. The G20 reaffirmed its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, its pledge to leave no one behind, and its enhanced shared responsibility in confronting global challenges and interconnected crises, from debt to global inequalities, climate change, and the SDG financing gap. During her participation, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat highlighted Egypt's experience in launching the "Country Approaches for Financing Sustainable Development and Climate Action" initiative within the Seville Platform for Action, with the aim of advancing integrated financing frameworks globally. Egypt co-leads this initiative (alongside South Africa, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, UNICEF, regional development banks, and others). Its objectives include 100 countries implementing integrated financing programs or country financing platforms funded by public, private, and philanthropic sources by 2030. Egypt has already begun joint work with Mexico to understand the mechanism for designing and implementing national platforms. Regarding stimulating large-scale investments, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of allowing the private sector to play an effective role in development financing, improving governance in international financial institutions, and strengthening the United Nations' role in setting global economic rules. She also stressed the significance of debt sustainability and updating the basis for calculating Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) to ensure a fairer assessment for developing countries, particularly in Africa, and to support these countries with incentive tools and mechanisms to overcome ongoing debt challenges. In line with the G20 ministers' declaration, which highlights the urgent need to bridge the $4.5 trillion annual SDG financing gap, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed the pressing need to expand blended finance and public-private partnerships, and to implement debt-for-development swap programs. She pointed to Egypt's experience, particularly with Italy, Germany, and China, in providing fiscal space for investment in high-impact projects in food security, women's empowerment, environmental protection, and climate change, making it a successful and replicable model. Furthermore, between 2020 and May 2025, Egypt successfully mobilized approximately $15.6 billion for private sector financing from international partners, with $4 billion allocated to the private sector within the Country Platform – the "NWFE" program. Despite the absence of an internationally agreed definition for Global Public Goods, the G20 Ministerial Declaration stressed the urgent need to enable the provision of these goods, along with the importance of taking action to support low-income and developing countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda in accordance with their national priorities and contributing to global well-being. This is what the Development Working Group calls for: enhancing global consensus, research, and cooperation on the protection and provision of Global Public Goods. The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation reiterated in her speech that development financing and investments in essential sectors represent the cornerstone of sustainable economic and social growth and have a direct impact on human well-being and long-term productivity. She confirmed the necessity of achieving a common vision in line with the G20 Ministerial Declaration, through mobilizing long-term and affordable financing and rethinking multilateral cooperation. With over $460 trillion in global assets, the potential to bridge SDG financing gaps is within reach – if countries redirect capital towards inclusive and sustainable priorities. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat concluded her speech by stating that the outcomes of this Ministerial Meeting must represent the beginning of a practical phase – to translate commitments into tangible progress, moving from policies to practices with strong political will, while ensuring that no country is left behind in our pursuit of a more sustainable and equitable future for all. It is worth noting that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation and plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues. Its membership includes 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union. South Africa assumed the G20 presidency from December 1, 2024, to November 2025, and is committed to leading the G20 by focusing on people, development, and solutions in a complex global geopolitical landscape. This comes against the backdrop of Egypt's pioneering experience – as a middle-income country – in balancing its national priorities. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation - Egypt.
